There’s something magical about the way finding simple, creative ways to stay close to your grandkids. In an age of video calls and social media, Great GrandMA Dr. Day Care found an old-school way to connect: she sent trivia questions on postcards – and paid for the right answers.
Where in the world is GrandMA?
Every time GrandMA Dr. Day Care would travel, she would make sure to find a postcard to send to the grandkids. No long letter. No lecture. Just asking for some trivia, like “Send me trivia about Rhode Island and you can win $20.”
Watch Great GrandMA Dr. Day Care talk about the postcard trivia experience with her granddaughter Alta:
Lessons for Staying Connected Across Generations
You don’t need elaborate plans to stay close to younger family members. A few key ingredients go a long way:
- Consistency – Make it a recurring event.
- Personal touch – Handwriting matters.
- Playfulness – Keep it light and fun.
- Engagement – Invite a response.
- Incentive – Even a small reward adds excitement.
A Tradition That Lasts
Years later, those postcards are saved in drawers and memory boxes. The money is long spent. But the feeling of racing to answer, waiting for the next card, and seeing Grandma’s handwriting? That sticks.
Sometimes connection doesn’t require more technology.
Sometimes it just takes a postcard, a good question, and a grandma who knows how to make learning feel like love.
Great GrandMA Dr. Day Care is Dr. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith