Grand Summer Fall 2019

Digital Grandparenting
Skype. FaceTime. Facebook Messenger. Zoom.
When it comes to video chatting, most grandparents, I
would argue, fall into two camps: those who love it and
those who don’t. Those who love it, I’d bet, are the ones who use
it to help bridge the distance between themselves and far-flung
family. Those who don’t are likely the ones who live close to their
grandchildren and who can maintain a close relationship the oldfashioned
way, face-to-face.
If you are like 38 per cent of grandparents
surveyed for a new study by the
American Association of Retired Persons
(AARP), you use video chat to communicate
and stay in touch with your grandkids.
“Forty-five per cent of us sometimes or
often stay in touch by text,” writes Paula
Span in The New York Times. “A third
use email and 27 per cent use Facebook.
We are becoming digital grandparents.”
And that’s a good thing, she maintains.
Video chatting serves a purpose, according to Dr. Dimitri
Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and
Development at Seattle Children’s Hospital. “I’m bullish on video
chatting,” Christakis said in The New York Times. “It can enhance
bonding and recognition.”
Unlike watching TV and using other screens, Christakis says
video chatting “is inherently interactive and doesn’t involve the
same sped-up pace, overstimulation or passivity as, say, watching
cartoons.” And unlike a phone call, it enriches conversation when
our grandchildren are able to see our facial expressions—and us,
theirs.
“Facial expressions are incredibly important,” he adds. “It’s why
we use emojis.”
It goes without saying that video chatting
is no substitution for seeing our
grandchildren face-to-face, and being able
to reach out and give them a hug or a kiss.
But it’ll do in a pinch. And a squeeze.
No matter how you stay connected,
we hope this issue of Island Grandparent
helps you enjoy your time with your
grandchildren. You’ll find articles on
everything from the importance of being
your grandchild’s ally, whether or not
praise can be detrimental, and beach exploration,
to a grandparent’s expectations, summer treats, and 7
things to do on the Island with the grandkids.
Just like the time you spend with your grandchildren, we hope
you enjoy every minute—and every page—of Island Grandparent.
Creating
beautiful smiles
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IslandParent.ca
Summer/Fall 2019 5