We always take our freedom for granted and now that is being restricted on who we can see, where we can see them, we must make a choice,

• is seeing a person putting them at risk?
• is travelling putting us and our loved ones at risk?

I have elderly relatives, some of whom are being locked at home to prevent the risk of infectious people entering the premises and passing on their germs.  This will likely have a massive impact on the older people, because the highlight of their day is that visit that now is forbidden. Heart breaking.

The increasing numbers of cases is forcing us not to travel, unless essential, schools are closing and therefore the children will be bored at home with nothing to do. I remember as a child feigning the day off school but without my friends the days were long and boring.  Most likely our children will feel the same.

So, let’s think of ways that we can

• fill the emptiness that the grandmother feels because she cannot see her grandchildren.
• wake the creativity and imagination of our children.

How can we use this time and bring fun and joy along with us?

• Create a special gift for that lonely grandmother missing her grandchildren, encourage the children to be creative with their time isolated at home.

5 Things that we can do at home with our children to show our loved ones that they are in our thoughts

We are so lucky now, that we can immediately see the photos we take, or have unlimited attempts to make that perfect photo. Each of these is a memory we can keep forever.

But we often forget those pictures, stored away in our phone, in a folder that we never open again, while there are so many ways to use them.

Use this time of isolation to dig deep into these treasures. Find the gold inside and use it, to create smiles, to go back in time, to tell that story of a special moment.

Together with your children look through your collection, find the special two or three that would mean so much to grandma or grandpa, relive that moment with your children, ask them what they remember,  where is it taken, how was the weather , what was said that made you all laugh so much.  Make notes of what they say, how they express themselves, start building a story that can be shared.

Use the time to think what gifts you could make and send to your loved ones that are away:

1. Create a special photo collage of the grandchildren –  select  favourite photos, print them off, write some captions on them from the memories you spoke about earlier, stick them on some card, perhaps write a “Missing you“ message and post it to grandma.  Think of the joy that it will bring her.

2. Bring back that special time spent together with a picture and a memory, use that special photograph, that one where you all remembered exactly where you were, print it, find the entrance ticket that you have stored away and put them both in a picture frame. Have fun wrapping it up, making sure it will be safe in the post and send it to the grandparents.

3.  Imagine grandpa wearing a t-shirt with a that moment of time captured, the childrens faces proudly across his chest.  Pick the photograph, go online, there are many places now that will print a t-shirt and get it delivered direct. Then wait for that phone call or photo of him wearing it. He’ll be the proudest.

4. Create a small book full of photos and the memories that you captured when looking at the photographs, use the childrens description of their memories in the book, get each to write their own. Print the photos and stick them in the book. Design a cover together, perhaps the children draw grandma and them in the park.  Grandma will feel less lonely.

5. If you are feeling really creative, perhaps make a video, just have the camera recording when you look through the photos and capture the natural reaction of the children to the memories they create.  Or ask the children to talk about a photograph and tell grandma what they remember about that moment in time.  Send it to grandma and make sure you explain how she can play it.

Show your loved ones how much they mean to you. Give them the present of memory, the frozen moment in time. These are few of many ways that we can bring a little joy in these times of pandemic.

Please think and share:

What is one way that you can use a photo to bridge the gap?

Share one idea that comes to mind. The wilder the better.

Have you ever gifted someone a personalised gift?  Tell us about it!

Share your ideas and motivate someone to be creative.