Ways on How to Bond with Grandchildren Despite the Pandemic: According to WHO

how to bond with grandchildren coronavirus pandemic

By Fatima Virrey , Parent Herald Oct 06, 11:17 am

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, there are still ways on how grandparents can spend time with their family and their kids. Grandparents were not able to bond with their grandchildren like how they used to. For safety reasons, there are many rules that people need to follow, especially the grandparents, since they are more vulnerable to the virus.

However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in their Facebook post, there are still ways on how grandparents can spend time with their family and their kids.

Know if your location is safe

Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 Technical Lead, said that it depends on where the grandparents live in terms of the physical interactions that people can have. This step is to make sure that they don't have the exposure that is risky to them. "In certain areas of the world, transmission is under control. Transmission is brought down to such a low level that societies are opening up. And grandparents, they can be with their grandkids", Kerkhove added.

Use the tools that we have right now.

Although there are cities that are opening up, there are still certain areas in the world where the coronavirus pandemic is always intense, and the virus is not yet been contained. And this is the part where you ask, how to bond with grandchildren? Kerkhove advised grandparents to use the tools that we have right now to reach out to their grandkids and bond with them while restricting physical contact. These tools include the use of our mobile phones and other digital devices. Schedule a virtual playdate with your grandkids. Tell them that this is only for the meantime. That us until the virus is contained, and the coronavirus pandemic is done.

Thinking about your safety first

Dr Mike Ryan, EXD, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, said that the role of grandparents is hugely important in the lives of their grandkids. Thus, the need to know how to bond with grandchildren is vital. But despite the importance of bonding with their grandkids, Ryan said, "they should really think twice about putting themselves in situations where they may be exposed". In this time of the coronavirus pandemic, grandparents on learning how to bond with grandchildren must also learn how to take care of themselves even more and how to be extra safe. That is because you will not be able to visit your grandkids far longer if you'll be sick and catch the virus.

Talk to your grandkids regularly.

Kerkhove mentioned using the tools that we have today for grandparents wondering how to bond with grandchildren. Call your grandkids over the phone, or try video calling. This way, even with the coronavirus still happening, you can still connect and talk to them virtually. Make them understand that this situation is only temporary and that you will see them soon once it is safe.

Be honest with them.

Another thing that grandparents need to know on how to bond with grandchildren is by being honest with them. Tell them that it is not safe for you to be out and to visit them like how you used to before this coronavirus pandemic. Explain to them that the virus affects older people like you differently than younger people.