3 Cheers for Grandma and Grandpa

Tips for celebrating grandparents and grandchildren:

• Make them feel special. Think about what makes the grandparents and grandchildren in your family really feel special. What do they enjoy the most? It may be as simple as a phone call, watching a movie, or sharing a meal together. Or it may require a bit more planning—taking a trip to a favorite destination together. Whatever you do, make it significant to them.
• Write a letter to your grandparents. Tell tell them how much you appreciate them. Telling them in person or on the phone is good, too, but a letter is something they can keep and go back to again and again.
• Give a phone card that covers the cost of telephone calls to keep in touch. A phone call from Grandma and Grandpa on the day of a big game, a test or another important event in a grandchild's life can let them know they are important. And a phone call from grandchildren to say hello to grandparents is a special treat at any age.
• Help grandchildren make a series of cards for grandparents. Get the cards ready and into stamped envelopes, and mail them once a week or once a month to facilitate ongoing interaction.
• Create a memory book, memoir, scrapbook or family history. This is a great way to capture grandparent's lives for grandchildren to keep. Taking time to do this ensures that your grandchildren will always have a record of your family history or stories. There are many books on this purpose you can buy, or look for a Web site that offers a format and questions to ask.
• Plan a family game night.Gather the whole family and play games that all generations can enjoy together. From throwing horseshoes to board games to video games like the Wii system, there are many games that are fun and encourage interaction. The best memories are made when laughing and having fun.
• Sign up for online interactive games. There are many sites now on which grandparents and grandchildren can "virtually" meet and play games together. With the Web, even game players don't have to be in the same place!
• Take a first step. If the grandparent–grandchild relationships in your family haven't been ideal. You can begin with small steps, such as a phone call, or sharing a meal.