They say that if your kids are your rainbows, then your grandkids must be your pot of gold.
And maybe that’s why bonding with grandkids who are far away is so tricky. You’re chasing your grandkids at the end of a rainbow!
Just kidding.
But, in all reality, I do understand that bonding with people far away is hard.
And, though I’m not a grandma, I have kids with grandparents, and I want them to have fun together (even if we’re not always nearby).
So this is a list of cool ways to bond with grandkids who are far away.
And while we haven’t tried everything on this list, I can confidently say that we would be happy to try all of them—and I hope you would be too.
Play games together on Board Game Arena
I first discovered this cool website while writing a different article about games to play with grandkids or all ages.
But, I feel like it deserves a place of honor in this article (because it’s very neat).
Basically, Board Game Arena is a website that lets you play games together online. All you need is a free account, and you have access to hundreds of modern board and card games.
(Trust me, there’s way more than just Uno or go fish on here).
Some games require a premium subscription (which is about $5 a month). But, there are plenty of options that don’t require it.
I would only pay if you really, specifically want to play a game that is premium.
Join a snail mail club together
Never heard of a snail mail club? No problem.
Basically, a snail mail club is a subscription to a little, monthly envelope package with things like letters, stickers, postcards, and more.
There are tons of different kinds out there. Many are art-based, but others are travel- or science-themed.
I think it would be really fun for a grandma and grandkid to subscribe together and talk each month about what they get!
If I were doing this, I might try “Writings from the Wild.” It’s themed around a different animal each month. (And they have stellar reviews)!
They’re also pretty affordable, with a basic subscription starting at $5 a month.
Be plant buddies
This connection idea costs almost nothing and is great for a variety of ages.
Send each other some seeds (You can get free heirloom seeds via freeheirloomseeds.org!) and an optional flowerpot and grab some soil from your backyard (or from your local garden center).
Plant your seeds together over video call and track their progress through the weeks!
See how quickly your plants sprout, unfurl leaves, and produce flowers (If they have them).
You might even try growing garden vegetables, like tomatoes or zucchini, and comparing how quickly they start producing!
Get connected lamps
This is a pricier, but very cool, way to connect.
The company LuvLink has pairs of lamps that can send messages to each other via changes in light and color. You can even create custom light-up codes in the app to send specific messages!
This would be a great way to build a link with grandchildren of just about any age.
In the reviews, one person talked about their two-year-old loving it, but many of the other reviews are from grown adults who treasure the connection they feel with the light codes.
Maybe this would be a good gift for a family with multiple grandchildren.
Digital craft night
Are you and your grandkid into making things?
If you are, try doing a craft night via video call!
Use amazon to get both of you a craft kit so you can simultaneously do a project.
(I think a crochet kit like this would be cute. Some reviews say the yarn isn’t the best quality, but you can’t really beat it for the price.)
Alternatively, get each other individual projects and just enjoy chatting while you work on them.
A bedazzling set could be fun for older grandkids and something like a melting beads kit could be fun for kids age 5 and up or so (with some help from mom).
Send custom coloring pictures
Are you decent at drawing? (It’s okay if you’re not—I’ll have a suggestion for you in a second.)
Sketch out pictures and outline them in black marker. Then, mail them to your grandkids as custom coloring pages!
If your grandchild can reciprocate, have fun mailing coloring pages back and forth to each other!
And if drawing’s not your thing, search for free coloring pictures on Google.
Or check out Canva’s AI coloring page generator (Just note that you have to upload a picture for it to turn into a coloring page.)
You can also try your hand at making your own coloring page with elements in Canva. Just follow this tutorial:
Story time via zoom
This is exactly what it sounds like: read your grandkids books over a zoom call.
Storytime over zoom is something that my mother-in-law came up with. We picked a time each week, and she would read curated stories to my children.
It was a lot of fun, and a great way for my littles to spend time with their Nana.
Plus, it also gave me a chance to get things done without children trailing me (which we all know NEVER happens, lol).
Have a shared “Family Dictionary”
This is a simple and laugh-inducing way to connect with grandchildren.
Share a Google Keep Note or Google Doc and track funny words and terms that get created in your family’s daily life.
Be sure to share specific examples of how and when to use each term.
Have fun looking through it when you get together next!
And remember: this doubles as keeping family history too!
Use Messenger Kids or Marco Polo
These are both apps to take communication with your grandkids to the next level.
Marco polo lets you send videos back and forth. It’s like texting or snapchat, but in video form.
I used it when I was younger and still think it’s a great communication tool!
Messenger kids, on the other hand, is a special video calling app with games and interactive drawing.
It’s free, and adults to control the contacts their kids can add (no Facebook account required).
I have personally never used it, and some people say it can be glitchy, but enough people appreciate it that I’d say it’s worth trying.
Do online puzzles together
While writing this article I discovered Jigsaw Explorer. It’s an awesome website that lets you collaborate live with others on jigsaw puzzles.
All you have to do is start a puzzle and send an invite link. Then you can work simultaneously to assemble all the pieces (see if you can do it within a certain time limit—they have a stopwatch that starts when you push play!)
The site has thousands of puzzles to pick from, and you can even use your own pictures to make custom ones.
Do MadLibs
This activity can be digital or physical.
If you want it to be physical, just google “free kids Madlib worksheets,” print them, and mail them to each other.
If you want this to be an activity that you do simultaneously, opt for digital,
Go to this website and have one of you pick a madlib. Then have the picker ask the other person for words to fill it out and see what funny results you get.
(I tried one and ended up with Donald Trump in a bathtub. Scary AND weird.)
Have a digital build party
This idea is great for chill, but still special, bonding time.
Get matching Lego sets off Amazon (I found some neat-looking knock-off builds like this one).
When they arrive, set a time to build and chat away while you work simultaneously.
I like this one because it’s great for a variety of ages. I’d honestly have still loved this as a young adult!
Play “I spy” in each other’s screens
This is simple activity that lends itself well to younger grandchildren.
Take turns spying something in each other’s frames and guessing what it is.
Laugh, talk, and enjoy bonding.
Be sure and have the phone or computer in a stable spot, though, so the frame doesn’t constantly change.
Do a video call cooking night
This takes a little planning, but the results are sure to be delicious.
Select a recipe in advance. Then, either order the ingredients via Amazon Fresh and get them shipped to each of you or communicate carefully so that everything gets grabbed in grocery runs for your households.
When the big night comes, video call and enjoy joking and catching up as you cook together via video.
You could even do this with multiple grandkids at once to make it a cousin AND grandma/grandpa bonding party!
Try out an App together
As strange as this point sounds, remember that there are a TON of apps out for doing activities together.
Two that are on my “to try” list are the apps Widgetable and Words With Friends.
Widgetable is a cute app that lets you own digital pets and grow a digital garden with contacts. You can share your emotions via emojis and interact in simple ways.
It’s a good app for any older grandkids who can own a phone (or safely use their mom’s.)
Words With Friends, on the other hand, is a sort-of scrabble-esque game that allows you to chat with the people you play with.
For that reason, I wouldn’t recommend it for younger teenagers or kids, just because of the potential to talk to strangers.
But it is a great way for you to touch base with any older teen or adult grandchildren.
Make each other friendship jewelry
This bonding idea is so simple it doesn’t even technically require a phone call (though I think it’d be nice to chat while you do it).
Use extra beads and string (or an affordable bracelet kit) and make each other jewelry to represent your connection.
When your done, mail each other your pieces!
For boys, you could use something like this paracord bracelet kit if you want the results to be less glitsy (the bulkier bracelets would be harder to mail, though).
Write a digital book or journal together
I wish I could have written a book with my grandma.
I mean, the idea of it isn’t for everyone—but how fun to create something significant together, even when you’re apart!
If creative writing isn’t your thing, just do journaling.
Use a platform like Google Docs or Word Online and take turns writing chapters or entries.
The results might add up fast, you could be amazed by what you have in a year!
Distant doesn’t mean disconnected
I hope you found some great ideas on that list!
I had fun coming up with and writing about them.
And, now that I’m done, I have newfound gratitude for technology.
Who knows what our grandparents would’ve given to connect like this!
We should take advantage of what we have.
Let me know in the comments below what your favorite ways are to bond with your grandkids long-distance!
