Share

Grandparent-grandchildren video calls are vital during Covid-19. Here are simple ways to improve them

accreditation
Make funny faces and hand gestures, blow kisses.
Make funny faces and hand gestures, blow kisses.

While based on international data, the below article by The Conversation remains relevant to local readers. 

Covid-19 has seen a huge increase in video calling as we try to socially distance but still stay in touch. This is particularly the case for grandparents and their grandchildren.

Who have either chosen to stay away, given the vulnerability of older people to coronavirus, or been forced apart due to lockdowns and border closures.

As researchers in early childhood, psychology and linguistics, we are studying how video calls fit into the lives of grandparents and their grandchildren and how we can enhance this interaction.

Our research

In a project with Western Sydney University's BabyLab, we are surveying grandparents and parents about their experience of using video chat with children under the age of five, to capture the changes brought by Covid-19.

So far, 130 grandparents and parents from around Australia have responded. Of those surveyed, on average, grandparents video call two to three times a week with their grandchildren, for about five to ten minutes.

They mostly used FaceTime and Facebook Messenger, as apps that are already available on their phones. '

Being part of their lives

About 40% of grandparents surveyed began using video calls with their grandchildren for the first time during Covid-19.

For all those surveyed, it was a mostly positive experience. Grandparents say the calls allow them to stay connected with their grandchildren - with respondents talking about "being a part of their lives" and "not missing seeing them grow".

One grandmother, who started using video chat with her granddaughter during Covid-19, said, "I can see her and see her reaction to our voices and smile, which makes me feel good".

Another experienced user, with grandchildren overseas, also said "Because it's so frequent - almost daily - I know their environment, it feels‚ normal. There's no shyness. We can start a book one day and continue each day. We walk around theirs, and my apartment and garden and I feel part of their lives".

But there are challenges.

Not surprising, the greatest challenge was maintaining children's attention during the calls. For some, the interaction was "artificial and detached". As one parent said, "It was more of a novelty than a way to have a genuine connection with people".

Other parents described the experience as stressful, noting the call had to be at "right time". As one parent noted of her one-year-old daughter, "she gets overstimulated and then will not go to bed".

Some grandparents also expressed concern that it was an additional burden for parents, and efforts were abandoned. I only did it once because it was too hard to fit into their already busy day.

What does this mean for 'screen time'?

Many parents and grandparents we surveyed have questions about what increased video-calling means for "screen time".

Is it harmful in any way for children? And for babies under 12 months - is there any benefit? Can it genuinely help such little ones remember their grandparents?

But video calls are not simply "screen time". Rather, they offer an important opportunity for socialisation, as young children can still mimic the information typically available in face-to-face interactions.

Read more: 'The peach emoji has nothing to do with fruit': What parents must know about the teen 'digital diet'

It's your child's screen experience that matters. The key appears to be the instant feedback that video offers. As recent research shows, one and two-year-old children can develop a social connection and learn the names of objects from someone they see and talk with via a video call.

Babies as young as four and five months prefer looking at images of faces over other toys and objects. This continues into their second year of life. So yes, you can engage a young child through FaceTime - and it can help their development.

But how can we optimise video calls with small children?

Tips for preparing for a video call

  • Place your device on a firm surface, using your cover or something similar as a tripod to free your hands for gesturing and showing objects.

  • Try to keep the light source in front of you, excessive sun glare behind you leads to a poor quality video.

  • Minimise background noise (such as the washing machine or radio).

  • Make the call part of your routine, so children come to expect and get used to calls.

  • Make funny faces and hand gestures, blow kisses.

  • Dance, take each other on a tour of your home or garden or try exercise moves together.

  • Set aside some books to use for video calls. You can carry on reading longer books with older children each time you call.

  • Try out various filters or virtual backgrounds built into your apps to make it more interesting for kids and give you something else to talk about.


Save the Children has some further information about staying in touch with grandparents.

If you are a grandparent, you can register to participate in the BabyLab survey here. Parents can register here.


This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Chatback:

Share your stories and questions with us via email at chatback @ parent24.com. Anonymous contributions are welcome.

Don't miss a story!

For a weekly wrap of our latest parenting news and advice, sign up to our Friday Parent24 newsletter.

Follow us, and chat, on Facebook and Twitter.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE