10 ways to connect with your pre-teen and teenage grandchildren.
1. If they have a mobile phone, learn their preferred method of communication and what they look at on sites such as Instagram, Youtube or TikTok. Share things they are interested in, while adding your own note to them. Call them regularly for a quick catch up.
2. Take them out for a pizza or teach them how to make pizza.
3. Make a digital family history collage with pictures of your parents, their parents as children, them as babies. You could physically create the collage/family tree then photograph it, save it and share it with them via email or cloud storage.
4. Get them to teach you how to play one of their video games. Get snacks and drinks for you to share while you enjoy the game.
5. Schedule a regular family film night, streaming a film they enjoy and providing popcorn and fizzy drinks.
6. Do they watch/play sport? Go with them to watch a game or to watch them play.
7. Always find something to praise them about, but be specific. Not 'you look great,' but 'I love the way you have done your eye make up. Could you teach me?' Not 'well done.' but 'your essay is so interesting I can tell you put a lot of time and effort into it.'
8. Make them laugh. Learn some jokes. Share some funny anecdotes or online YouTube shorts or pictures.
9. Offer to help them with something (fixing their bike, maths homework, sorting their room, choosing a present for Mum or Dad, whatever.)
10. Don't judge them. Tell them you love them. Even if they brush it off, they will hear it and treasure it.
