Keeping in Touch with Grandma & Grandpa: The Easy Way

DocDreyfus
Source: DocDreyfus.com

September 13th is National Grandparent’s Day, so we thought we would address one of the toughest difficulties facing the modern day family: spending enough meaningful time together.

An AARP study revealed that 45 percent of grandparents live more than 200 miles away from their grandchildren. This means technology is a crucial way for families to stay in touch.

The “how are you” email and phone call can turn stale quickly, so keep the lines of communication fresh and open with these creative ways to stay in touch.

 

The Gamer Grandparents

Minecraft, Words with Friends and Trivia Crack are all great games that cannot only be played on a smart device but are extremely easy to play for even the most novice techy. Keeping you in the loop with the grandchildren as never been easier or more fun!

Fire up your smart phone and download some fun (and most often free) games, allowing you to bond with a whole new generation.

 

Initiate a Group Skype Video Call

Thanks to Skype and other video chatting platforms, the world just got a little smaller in a great way!

This idea is especially great for those long-distance Grandparents looking to share the “everyday experience” they may miss out on because of distance or busy schedules. Ask your family to pick a date/ time, log on to Skype and add each family member into the group. Then it will feel like everyone is sitting together. For extra fun, grab a drink and a snack and start catching up!

 

The Tech-Free Tip: A letter or Package in the Mail

Sometimes, the old way will always be the best way. Getting a letter or a package in the mail is a rarity these days.

Show your family you’re thinking of them by sending a cool postcard, a news clip, an old family photo or a gift that reminds you of them. The possibilities are endless!

 

We hope you found these tips helpful and try them out for yourself. Family.Me is another great way to stay in touch with family and make sure you’re sharing your memories. Our entire team wishes you and your loved ones a Happy Grandparents Day!

 

Kids Crafts: Build your own Family Tree!

Some kids are back to school already and some are still basking in the warmth of summer! No matter where you are, take a break from the sunshine and make some memories with the kids while you still have time. Though we’re partial to documenting your legacy online with Family.me… we’re always up for a fun DIY to get the kids involved. Below are some creative ideas for family trees, and they are so easy!

 

The “Palm” Tree – adapted from House of Hendrix‘ “Tree of Gratitude”

House of Hendrix
Source: House of Hendrix

What You’ll Need:

  • Paint (Green & brown)
  • Alphabet letter snacks
  • Glue
  • Paper

Start by sorting and organizing all the letters to spell out all those special people in your family. Then, have the kids use their forearms for the tree trunk by lathering it with brown paint and pressing to the paper, and do the same with green paint and their palms. Lastly, add the alphabet names and some decorations with some glue, and you’re DONE!

 

3-D Family Tree – Adapted from Pikadilly Charm‘s Paper Bag Fall Tree

Pikadilly Charm
Source Pikadilly Charm

What You’ll Need:

  • Brown paper lunch bags
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Paper (Fall colors)
  • Photos of your loved ones

Your family will “stand” out with this easy paper bag sculpture. Simply cut the brown paper bag in a fringe-like manner and twist. Then, embellish the colored paper (leaves) by gluing small photos of your loved ones and attaching them the the brown paper bag as shown in the picture. It’s easy, fun and also will be a perfect decoration for the upcoming Fall months!

 

Family Tree in a Cup – adapted from Children’s Ministry Magazine

Source: Children's Ministry Magazine
Source: Children’s Ministry Magazine

What You’ll Need:

  • Green construction paper
  • Markers and crayons
  • Scissors
  • Yarn
  • A hole punch
  • Foam cups
  • Clay
  • Twigs or branches

First, firmly press clay in the bottom of the foam cup and insert the twigs so they’re securely standing upright. Next, cut out large leaves from the green construction paper, one for each member of your family. Then, draw your family members accordingly / write their names on each leaf. Hole-punch the top of each leaf and tie them to the twigs with the yarn. Embellish the “pot” as you see fit and your your family tree is complete!

 

Of course, the best option for keeping a growing family tree all in one place is Family.me 😉

Family.me User Satisfaction Survey

FamilyMeUserSurvey

We’re so excited to be working on the next version of a fresher and better Family.me! But first, we need your help to  do it. All registered users of Family.me should have received an email link to a satisfaction survey over the last few days.

If you got this link, please take just a couple of minutes to fill this out and tell us about what you enjoy most about Family.me and what you’d most like to see within the site in the future.

One lucky survey taker will even win a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card!

We’ve posted the Sweepstakes rules below and are so looking forward to your feedback. Stay tuned for more updates soon!

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FAMILY.ME SURVEY – VISA GIFT CARD SWEEPSTAKES
OFFICIAL RULES AND CONSUMER DISCLOSURE

No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this sweepstakes. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.

You have not yet won. A purchase will not improve the chances of winning. Restrictions apply.

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ELIGIBILITY: This sweepstakes is open to any individual who is a permanent legal resident of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, 18 years of age or older as of August 6, 2015, and in possession of either a valid social security number and/or a valid U.S. personal tax identification number.

Officers, directors, and employees of Sponsor; members of these persons’ immediate families (spouses and/or parents, children, and siblings, and their spouses); and/or persons living in the same households as such persons (whether or not related thereto) are ineligible to enter this sweepstakes.

PROMOTION PERIOD: Entries will be received beginning August 6, 2015 through August 31, 2015.

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WINNER SELECTION: On September 7, 2015 the Sponsor will conduct a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to extend the entry period if an insufficient number of eligible entries are received or if no eligible entries are received. The decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding in all respects.

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ODDS: One prize will be awarded. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries.

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General Conditions: This sweepstakes is subject to these Official Rules. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it (or its authorized designee) finds to be: (i) tampering with, as applicable, the entry process or otherwise with the operation of the sweepstakes (including, but not limited to, the use of automated computer programs or any non-human mechanism, entity, or device), or the Survey Website, or any web banner ad related to the sweepstakes; (ii) acting in violation of these Official Rules; (iii) acting in a non-sportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, harass, harm, mislead, or defraud any other individual or entity; or (iv) found to be otherwise in violation of law. Any person attempting to defraud any of the entries or in any way tamper with the sweepstakes or the Survey Website will be ineligible to win a prize and Sponsor will seek all remedies available to it, including, if appropriate, filing appropriate complaints with legal authorities. If, for any reason, the sweepstakes or the Survey Website (or any portion thereof) becomes corrupted, or is not capable of running as originally planned, or does not allow the proper playing of the sweepstakes and processing of entries in accordance with these Official Rules, or if infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, actions by entrants, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes, in the opinion of the Sponsor, corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the sweepstakes or the granting of a prize or any component thereof, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual implicated in such action and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the sweepstakes or any portion thereof and to conduct the drawing and award the prize from all eligible, salvageable entries received (if any), prior to and/or after (as appropriate) the action taken by Sponsor, or otherwise in a manner that is fair and equitable as determined by Sponsor. In case of a dispute over the identity of an entrant who submitted a winning entry, at Sponsor’s discretion, the authorized account holder of the e-mail address account associated with that entry will be deemed the entrant. The “authorized account holder” is deemed the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, service provider or other on-line organization that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Said owner must comply with these Official Rules and, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, may be required to provide proof of ownership of the e-mail account.