5 Ways Long-Distance Grandparents Can Use Storytelling to Stay Connected

Being a grandparent is one of life’s greatest joys, but when miles separate you from your grandkids, it’s easy to feel disconnected. A quick video call or text message is nice, but it doesn’t always create the deep connection that you’re longing for.

That’s where storytelling comes in. Sharing stories, whether personal memories, classic tales, or imaginative adventures, can be a meaningful bridge across the distance. Storytelling lets you laugh together, pass down family traditions, and create memories your grandkids will cherish forever.

Here are five heartfelt ways you can use storytelling to feel close, no matter how far apart you are.

1. Create an Ongoing “Pass-the-Story” Tradition

Make storytelling a shared experience by starting a “pass-the-story” game over video chat. It’s simple:

• You begin a story with a few sentences: “Once upon a time, a little fox found a mysterious key in the forest…”

• Your grandchild adds the next part of the story.

• Keep taking turns until you reach a fun or surprising ending.

This playful tradition keeps kids engaged, sparks their creativity, and gives you both something special to look forward to on every call.

2. Tell Classic Stories Together

Nothing brings people together like a timeless tale. Choose a folktale from our Free Story Library and tell it over a call.

To make the experience more interactive:

• Pause before going on and ask your grandchild what they think will happen next.

• Let them decide the ending, you can even ask how they would change the story.

• Play with the story together. Change the setting or characters and make it your own.

Pro Tip: If you want to take your storytelling experience to the next level, we’ve created special story collections that highlight powerful life lessons. Each collection features:

• A curated folktale about an important virtue (like bravery or honesty).

• A storyteller’s guide to help you make the story your own.

• Coloring & activity pages to spark conversation and engagement.

Explore our Bravery Story Collection or Honesty Story Collection, perfect for bringing stories to life with your grandkids!

3. Record & Send Personalized Audio Stories

Sometimes schedules don’t align for live calls, but that doesn’t mean you can’t share a story. Recording a short audio story and sending it as a voice message lets your grandkids hear your voice whenever they miss you.

Some meaningful ideas:

• A story from your own childhood—what was life like when you were their age?

• A make-believe adventure starring them as the hero.

• A family memory about their parents or great-grandparents.

We’ve used Voice Record Pro with good results to record and send longer stories back to our kids when travelling. There are many free voice recorder apps available, making this easy to do from your smart phone. You could also just send a voice memo via text message for shorter stories.

The recording doesn’t have to be perfect. Your love and excitement about the story are what matter most.

4. Play Virtual Storytelling Games

If your grandchild loves to play, bring storytelling into their world through games! Here are a few fun ways to create stories together over video chat:

• Story Dice Game – Have them roll a die and let the numbers decide key story elements (e.g., 1 = a pirate, 2 = a spaceship, 3 = a talking animal). Then, build a tale around them!

• Object Storytelling – Have your grandchild hold up a random object, and you make up a story about it on the spot.

• One-Word Story – You each take turns saying one word at a time, building a silly, surprising story together.

Want even more storytelling prompts? Our book Creating Stories Worth Telling Your Kids includes a special appendix filled with hundreds of story-building ideas, perfect for making up an imaginative tale on the fly!

(We’re also working on a free Story Dice printable—stay tuned!)

5. Start a “Grandparent & Grandchild Storytelling Journal”

If you want a tradition that lasts beyond video calls, create a story journal together. It is sure to be a treasured keepsake for years to come.

Here’s how you can do it on your own:

• Use a shared Google Doc or a simple notebook where you each write a few sentences of an ongoing story.

• Have your grandchild draw pictures to go along with it.

• When it’s finished, print it out as a special memory book.

Want a beautifully designed journal to make this tradition even more meaningful?

We created the Creating Stories Worth Telling Your Kids Journal specifically for families who want to capture and share their stories in a simple, guided way.

• Thoughtfully designed pages to help you record personal memories, family traditions, and creative stories.

• Dedicated space for your grandchild to become the illustrator by drawing their favorite character or story scene

• A keepsake that preserves your shared stories for future generations.

For the best experience, grab the Book + Journal Bundle. It includes both the book, Creating Stories Worth Telling Your Kids, and the companion journal to walk you through our complete storytelling framework. It’s the perfect way to start a lasting tradition with your grandkids.

Final Thoughts

Even when miles apart, storytelling helps you stay close. Whether you’re playing a story game, recording a bedtime tale, or starting a long-distance storytelling journal, these small moments of connection make a big impact.

And remember, you have a story that they want to hear. Start your storytelling adventure today.