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How to Help Kids and Grandparents Connect

Author Michelle Sterling walks you through different ways to help kids and grandparents deepen their relationships, both online and off.

Michelle Sterling

Read when you’ve got time to spare.

The first year of the pandemic was particularly tough on grandparents. And for some, the years since haven’t quite provided the respite we hoped for — at least when it comes to reclaiming lost time for those meaningful relationships. But whether you’re navigating your own connection with grandkids or playing middleman for multiple generations, it’s worth investing in some prep work to make the most out of every interaction, whether they’re online or live.

For help filling your toolbox of ideas, we called on Michelle Sterling, the author of the vibrant picture book When Lola Visits, about a Filipina American girl and her grandmother who comes for her annual summer visit — a book for kids with melodic, evocative prose that adults will enjoy reading (again and again, likely).

The book’s young protagonist engages in family traditions, mouth-watering cooking projects, and summer fun with her lola — all brought to life with expressive illustrations by Aaron Asis. Sterling drew on the book’s adventures, as well as her own research, for a guide to helping the youngest and oldest members of any family learn more about each other and the intergenerational connection they’re lucky to have.

Read on as Sterling walks you through her picks, from conversation-starting questions to trip planning to family cookbooks.

Image by vectorikart/Getty Images

Cooking Through a Crisis With Grandma, Virtually

Michelle Sterling: “Cooking together brings us closer, even when we’re apart.”

How to Thrive in a Multigenerational Home, According to 5 Asian American Families

MS: “Multigenerational living has quite a few built-in benefits, including embracing lessons of caregiving and strengthening familial bonds.”

32 Questions Your Kids and Their Grandparents Need to Ask Each Other

MS: “Grandkids can get to know their grandparents, and vice versa, by asking the right questions that foster engaging and deep conversation.”

10 Lessons I Learned From My Grandparents

MS: “Children inherit so much from their grandparents, including a myriad of important life lessons, big and small.”

14 Online Game Ideas For Grandparents And Grandchildren To Play Together

MS: “If you live far apart, arrange a special day and time every week to connect regularly. A little prep work ahead of time will prevent the dreaded cycle of ‘Doing fine, so... what’s going on with you?’ This piece has great ideas for games to help you laugh together and let loose!”

How to Make a Family Cookbook, Filled With Recipes From Your Favorite People

MS: “Food always has a story to tell. Grandparents and grandchildren have a unique opportunity to compile family recipes in a cookbook to record memories, document family history, and preserve cultural traditions.”

The Best Trips to Take With Your Grandkids

MS: “So much of the joy of a trip is in the planning. Deciding where to go and the special things you’ll do when you get there is enjoyable for all parties involved.”

4 Ways to Help Grandparents Start Their Own Reading Traditions with Their Grandkids

MS: “Reading together is such a wonderful bonding experience. Here are four ways for grandparents to start their own reading traditions with their grandkids.”

Grandparents in Picture Books

MS: “A diverse collection of picture books that celebrate grandparents and remind us of lovely times spent together.”

Lola’s Work: What a Grandmother Taught Her Family About Love

MS: “A grandson recounts the greatest lesson he ever learned from his grandmother. It wasn’t anything she ever said, rather, it was from the work she did for them every day that spoke volumes.”

Stay Connected to Grandparents With These 11 Care Package Ideas

MS: “A grandparent would love receiving any of these care packages. Grandkids can put their own creative spin on handmade, thoughtful gifts to let their grandparents know that they’re thinking of them.”

Dear Friend [TEMPLATE]

MS: “Little ones who are learning to write can use this cute template to send a letter to Grandma or Grandpa, letting them know how much they miss them.”

Michelle Sterling

Michelle Sterling is a children’s book author, photographer and speech-language pathologist. Her debut picture book When Lola Visits, about a Filipina American girl and her grandmother who comes for her annual summer visit, was published in May 2021 and has received four starred reviews. Many of Michelle's stories are inspired by her heritage, family traditions and her love of gastronomy and food history. She lives in Southern California with her family. Find Michelle online at averyandaugustine.com and michellesterlingbooks.com.