How to stay connected with grandparents between video calls

Staying connected with grandparents between video calls can start with one small moment: a joke from breakfast, a proud description of a block tower, or a goodnight message. You do not have to coordinate another full call to share something from the day.

These are ideas to try, not a schedule to keep up with. Pick the one that requires the least setup for your family.

Send something specific instead of a general check-in

“Tell Grandma about your day” can be a big request. A smaller invitation gives a child somewhere to start:

• “Do you want to tell Grandpa what you named your dinosaur?”
• “Should we send Grandma that funny sound?”
• “Would you like to show them your drawing?”

The child can say no. A parent can offer the opportunity without making a message another task to finish.

Try one of these small exchanges

A sound from today

A child records their best lion roar, a song they made up, or a sentence about something they built. A grandparent replies with a sound or one specific reaction: “That sounded like a very sleepy lion.”

Use whichever family messaging tool you already have. A parent can help with recording and sending; the message does not have to sound polished.

A tiny story from the grandparent's day

Grandparents do not have to wait for news from the child. “A squirrel tried to climb onto my bird feeder” gives the child a small window into their life. Leave an opening for a reply, but do not require one.

If you want a prompt, choose one of these questions kids can ask grandparents and answer it with a short story.

A drawing with a voice note

A parent shares a photo of the child's drawing, and the child explains one part. The grandparent can reply by noticing a detail rather than asking a string of questions: “I like that the dog has purple shoes.”

A familiar goodnight

Invite a grandparent to record a short goodnight, a family saying, or a made-up story. Play it when it fits the child's routine. Let it be optional; if they would rather hear something else tonight, the recording will still be there.

A story that takes turns

One person starts: “The rabbit found a mysterious key.” The next person adds a sentence later. The story can take a week or end after two messages. It belongs to the people telling it.

Make expectations easy on the adults

Agree that a message is an invitation, not a demand for an immediate reply. That helps when time zones, work, or bedtime make live conversation awkward.

If grandparents wonder whether a message arrived, decide on a simple acknowledgment the adults are comfortable with. A quick “We listened at breakfast” can close the loop without asking the child to perform a response.

Try an existing moment, such as after breakfast or while putting away drawings, rather than adding another calendar reminder. If it starts to feel like work, make it smaller or pause.

Let the child choose what to share

Offer choices: a joke or a sound, Grandma or Grandpa, now or later. Young children may still need help using the technology. They can lead the content even when an adult handles the sending.

Keep family exchanges private and ask before forwarding a child's recording beyond the people it was meant for.

Keep video calls for the things you enjoy live

Messages and calls can do different jobs. A message can share the little moment while it is happening; a call can be a chance to play or laugh together. If talking on camera feels difficult, try one of these simple video-call games.

Where Hilou fits

We are working on Hilou so kids can send short voice messages to parent-approved loved ones from a dedicated device. A grandparent can reply through the Hilou website or their own Hilou. We are inviting our first families to help shape the experience.

You can try the routines above with tools you already use. If a dedicated device sounds useful for your family, see how Hilou works.

For more ideas you can mix and match, explore long-distance grandparent activities.