Do you want to connect with grandchildren, nieces and nephews, a godchild, stepchildren, or a friend’s child? Connecting with children who don’t live in your home can be difficult. Whether they live down the block or thousands of miles away you can find ways to spend time with them, building a relationship that can last throughout both your lives.
Blessed with two grandchildren, one 90 miles away and the other over 1,600 miles south, I find meaningful connections a struggle. Talking on the phone is easier said than done. One-word answers and long silences occur because my grandkids don’t know what to say. So I came up with some ideas to draw us closer and get to know one another better.
- CREATE A BOOK
Listen to what the child in your life says to garner ideas for fun projects.
When my mother died it was heartbreaking for all of us. She was the cornerstone of the family and everyone misses her terribly. My grandson, Isaac, was nine when she died, and he had a particularly close relationship with my mom. He didn’t call her great-grandma he called her Eadie. When he was a toddler he called her My Eadie.
His heart broke when she died, making the loss all that more poignant for the rest of the family. After her death, Isaac talked about wanting to keep Eadie’s recipes in the family. So Isaac and I are working on a cookbook together.
When he comes to visit for a weekend we pull a couple recipes for the book. There are many ways to put the book together. Isaac and I chose to buy a binder and poster board. We type two recipes on each 8 x 10 sheet and add some graphics. It is fun to choose what pictures to put on each recipe. After we print it out, we attach the paper to the poster board, three-hole punch and add to the binder. You can get as basic or professional as you are creative, but it is something to do together that makes memories and will be valuable to the child into adulthood.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be a cookbook. Find something that the two of you have in common or a subject that interests both of you and create a book. Some other ideas include the family genealogy, a record of family Christmas traditions, places you want to travel, etc. The ideas are endless.
- FACETIME
FaceTime is a wonderful invention. You can connect with children living anywhere in the world and be able to experience their emotions and expressions. I think about Biblical times when children married people who lived far away, for example, Rebekah moved to Canaan to marry Issac, a man she never met! Most likely, she never saw her family again. Can you imagine?
Anyway, FaceTime isn’t original, but it is a valuable tool. Of course, for younger children, you have to have the cooperation of a parent. Our daughter, who lives over a thousand miles away in Texas, is generously sharing her daughter, Grace, with us on FaceTime. We talk at least once a week. When we went for a visit she recognized us from seeing us on the phone!
- PLAY A LONG DISTANCE GAME
Adults have played chess long distance for years – long before electronic games. So, why not start a game of checkers, Battleship, or Scrabble? Share moves over the phone once a day, or once a week or whatever you decide. It only takes a few minutes but can be something fun to do together. There are apps and online games to play too, but the kids spend so much time on electronics, it might be refreshing to play games the old-fashioned way.
- READ THE SAME BOOK
Buy two books – one for you and one for the child. Decide on a reading schedule of short time frames. Kids are busy and get bored easily. Respect their schedules and only ask for short visits. After each chapter of the book, talk about what you read. Have some questions ready to facilitate the discussion. For a younger child, you might want to read a book together when you do FaceTime. Again, just a couple paragraphs at a time.
- DO A DEVOTIONAL
This one is my favorite. Quality time together and an opportunity to share your faith is certainly a win-win. I am completing a devotional series that begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation. Since I have a ten-year-old grandson and a two-year-old granddaughter I do two devotionals, but use Scriptures from the part of the Bible we are studying in both meditations.
The reason I chose this format was a discovery I made after teaching junior high Sunday school for years. The students knew the stories of Noah’s Ark, Moses and the burning bush, Daniel in the lion’s den, and Joseph’s coat of many colors. Accordingly, embedded in their minds are the Christmas story, the crucifixion, some miracles, and Paul’s blind encounter on the road to Damascus.
However, kids’ lack of knowledge regarding the foundation of Christianity astounds me, including their unfamiliarity with the structure of the Bible, such as the patriarchs, prophets, and the start of the Christian church. They’re aware there’s an afterlife, but know nothing of the spiritual battle that takes place before spending an eternity with Jesus.
Robert Millikan, a 1923 Nobel laureate in physics and the President of the California Institute of Technology, once said:
“I consider an intimate knowledge of the Bible an indispensable quality of a well-educated man.”
It’s true. The Bible is the basis for much of our government and culture; being familiar with the Bible’s teachings provides a better grasp of our world. Did you know many sayings in our culture originate from the Bible? Look up the Scriptures below, and discover the meaning behind these familiar sayings.
The Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 30—37)
Scapegoat (Leviticus 16:8—10)
A drop in the bucket (Isaiah 40:15)
At their wits’ end (Psalm 107:27)
Go the extra mile (Matthew 5:41)
A thorn in my side (2 Corinthians 12:7)
So, it is my prayer that as I walk through the Bible with my grandkids it help them understand the foundation of Christianity and God’s plan of redemption (which begins in Genesis), along with strengthening their faith. Of course, this devotional series is a very basic overview, but it plants a seed at a young age for children’s spiritual growth.
Kids love to get mail, so I mail them the devotion and schedule a time to talk using FaceTime or Skype. Not only do these chat sessions open the door for quality time and sharing your faith, but you are also creating lasting memories.
Hope these five ideas for drawing closer to a child helps you connect with that special child in your life. Perhaps you have some ideas. Don’t keep them a secret, share them in the comment section.
Just a side note: the “Word of the Week” is “Denial” and the “Walk through the Bible” for kids covers Genesis 24 -36 with a devotional about honesty. This will be the last week for the devotionals. If you are using the devotionals click on contact and let me know. If there is enough interest I will begin posting them again, but I need to hear from you if you want me to continue either “Word of the Week” or “Walk Through the Bible for Kids.”
Next week, I will share information about apps that help me grow spiritually. See you then!
Patrice you are doing a great job of sharing and I hope you continue. Since I have three grandsons miles away in MO.and fortunate enough to have two grandsons near by these ideas you shared apply to our family. Love you, Aunt Susanne
God bless your ministry. Your Mom has to be smiling and still praying even from Heaven for blessings on this ministry.
Thanks for your kind words. I hope other readers have some ideas to share to make connecting with a child long distance a little easier and meaningful.
Patrice!!! I’m loving these!! I’m loving them on Tuesdays as well! Hah! As I read this I had a couple items going through my mind to do with the children from the theatre and this was an answer to my unspoken prayers!! Thank you! God always knows what we need- down to the little details that could cause stress or worry! Thank you for being an incredible woman of Christ and a vessel to pour out goodness into our hands through the wonders of technology! Hah! Love you!
Thanks for sharing Joni. God is funny that way. He uses circumstances and other people to encourage us when we need it.
I know you cared about the kids participating in the play. Thanks for sharing Christ with these little ones, and for wanting to stay in touch with them. I am sure you made (and will continue to make) a positive impact on their lives. Glad the blog gave you some ideas.
Patrice,
I love your toddler’s devotionals and have printed them out to share with my 2-1/2 year old granddaughter. I enjoyed reading and am very impressed with your ideas about keeping spiritually involved with your grandchildren long distance!
Thanks for sharing. It is difficult to stay close long distance, but worth the effort! Glad you are using the devotionals. I will try to continue posting them.