Once upon a time, the majority of kids grew up with their grandmas and grandpas close by. Nowadays, however, more and more families live far away from each other, and it's not uncommon for children to see their grandparents once a year (or even less frequently). Thankfully, technology makes long-distance bonding possible!
In a video posted on June 2, a toddler girl is waiting at the airport to meet two very special people...her grandmother and grandfather, who just arrived from Russia! Apparently, this is her first time seeing them in person after a year and a half of video chats — but the second she spots them, it's clear she knows and loves them very much!
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"The pure emotions! I can't describe how happy this made me. It took my parents THREE long days to get here, and all that exhaustion and stress disappeared when this happened!" wrote Dilyara Allen . They were so thrilled to see each other! This video proves how strong the connection between family members can really be, as commenters pointed out.
Related: Long Distance Grandparents Surprise Grandson for Field Trip
"I am BAWLING!! How adorable she could hold so much built in love for two people she has only ever spoken to through a screen," wrote ListentoCele.
"My son is 20, his dad was deployed from 7 months old to 14 months and we had a pillow with Dad's picture printed on it. When we picked him up our son RAN to him as he got off the bus. First time," wrote Melissa.
It just goes to show how helpful things like video chats are for kids and grandparents who don't get to see each other often.
Tips for Video Chats With Grandparents
You might worry that virtual visits with grandma and grandpa aren't as valuable as real time shared, but they can still be super meaningful, according to the BBC.
“'These kinds of interactions are really important for you as well as the child,' says speech and language therapist Janet Cooper. 'They won’t make up for seeing people in real life but they’re a great way to maintain networks of support. And don’t underestimate the benefits for a young baby too: they recognize voices and hearing your conversations will help their language skills.'"
Educational psychologist James McTaggart says grandparents should treat the video call "like a real interaction."
“Build on what the baby’s doing, follow their reactions, give them lots of time to respond and use a high-pitched voice. All the things you would do if you were meeting in person."
As kids get older, they can even play virtual games with grandparents (like charades). Or you could ask grandma and grandpa to read your child their favorite bedtime story via video chat. Whatever you do, try to keep communication regular and consistent.
Hopefully the little girl in this video had a very happy in-person visit with her grandparents!
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