Many children grow up around the corner from grandparents or other extended family such as aunts, uncles, and cousins. They enjoy regular visits, like Sunday dinners, special outings, or even afterschool care. These relationships are important and special in the life of a child; however, not all children have such intimate contact with these loved ones on a regular basis. In today's society, families are often spread across the country or even the globe. Maintaining long distance family ties requires some effort, but is well worth it!

Never in the history of humankind has it been easier for us to keep in touch with one another. We are fortunate to live in a time that offers many means of communication and allows us to travel great distances quickly. Children will benefit from a familial closeness and enriched social life by keeping in touch with long distance relatives.

One of the oldest and most rewarding means of communication is letter writing. In an age of email and long distance phone plans, the idea of jotting down some recent news and personal thoughts on a piece of paper can seem foreign. However, don't let this stop you from encouraging your children to sit down with pen in hand and practice the art of letter writing.

Writing a letter is a very personal act, with children and grandparents sharing family stories, both past and present. Family histories are passed on to the young, and cultural traditions and stories are preserved for future generations. Years of correspondence can act as a sort of photo album in later years.

The Internet can be a wonderful tool in the struggle to maintain close contact with far off loved ones. Web pages are an ideal way for long distance relatives to see new photographs of children, and news of a baby's arrival or first steps. New technologies provide real-time communication. You can even send personalized greeting cards on-line to relatives to ensure timely delivery.

Email is also an inexpensive and almost instantaneous form of communication. My three-year-old daughter emails her grandmother a few times a week with news and just to say hello. Email allows for lengthy (or brief) personal messages between children and their relatives at a fraction of the price of a phone call.

Of course, there are always the phone and fax lines. Young children can fax their latest artwork to a grandparent, or that first spelling test can be shared almost immediately. The elation in the voice of a young soccer star who has just won her first game can be felt at the other end of the receiver. Weekly or biweekly calls between grandchildren and grandparents build memories and a strong bond.

Whether it's a six-hour drive to neighbouring province, a train trip across the country, or a flight halfway round the world, travelling is the ultimate glue in a long distance relationship. Time constraints and finances often dictate when and how often we can visit family at a distance. However, if feasible, nothing beats personal contact between children and the ones they love. Planning a family vacation to visit Grandma and Grandpa, or the anticipation of Grandma's bi-annual visit, is exciting for children and serves to build fond memories

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