If you live in a different city from your parents or in-laws, consider helping your children stay connected to their grandparents through books.
For younger children, encourage the grandparent to make a digital video recording of them reading a book to your child. They can either send the file to you or put the video on a video sharing website such as YouTube. If they are unfamiliar with the technology, you can set up the tools for them on your next visit. While your child is watching the video, have her follow along with her own copy of the same book. My mom made a digital recording of her reading Very Hungry Catpailler to my daughter when she was a toddler and Laurel really enjoyed looking at the book while Mimi “read it to her” on the recording.
An idea for children reading chapter books is to have her ask his grandparents to read the same book that she is reading. Encourage them to talk about the book after they have both finished. Once they have finished with the book, have the grandparent pick out a book to read together next.
We lived far away from our kids' grandparents until my oldest was three. We still live across the country from one grandfather -- now I'm going to ask him to do this. Thanks for a great idea!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea and would also work well for military parents who are deployed. Thanks for the idea spark.
ReplyDeleteJulie, that is a great idea to use this for spouses who are deployed in the military. I think I'll make a post so that others see this idea. Thank you!
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