Long Distance Parenting

All Ages:

Send regular "I miss you" picture or post cards of every day things--
- Think of the little things that make you make you miss your kids, it doesn't need to be exciting. It can a bug, a pile of leaves, an emplty playground or baseball field. Share your world with your kids, regularly.
Silly jokes--
- send a message with a silly joke from a candy wrapper or a silly story someone told you
Listen to what is important to your kids, but be flexible--
- Activities in Skype/Facetime make it easier to talk, but your still need to pay attention to non-verbal cues. Be open to inevitable changes in hobbies and friends. Ask them questions to allow them to discover their own solutions. Let them know you care.
Open a window to your world--
- Allow them to catch a glimpse of your world and your job. Show them something you have in your office. Let them know you miss them. Let them know the real you.

Set the stage--
- make sure your child's artwork is visible behind you during Skype/ Facetime

Bring a Friend-- a simple sosck puppet or google eyes adds focus. The puppet talks to the kids, and kids talk about what the puppet said

Tea parties, Legos, cars, puzzles, and coloring books-- engage them on skype and let your kids initiate play

Board and Card Games-- You each have the same game and take turns via Skype. Hi-Ho Cherio, CHutes and ladders, and Candyland are all great fun.