If you've ever turned to your parents, your partner's parents, or older relatives for help and support with child-rearing, you've probably experienced how great grandparents can be. Although physical distance and parenting differences can come between grandparents and their grandchildren, encouraging a close relationship benefits grandparents, parents, and children alike.

The Benefits of Bonding With Grandparents
Children who establish a close bond with their grandparents learn about their cultural heritage and family history, which can give them a stronger sense of belonging. In addition, the unconditional love provided by grandparents allows children to develop trust and to feel safe with people other than their parents. For example, overnight trips to Grandma's house may be less traumatic for your child than sleepovers with peers, which can help your child develop independence. Another benefit - grandparents may have lots of time to spend playing and reading to kids. Such dedicated attention only improves your child's developmental and learning skills.

But the benefits of having your child bond with grandparents doesn't end with kids. Parents also benefit by receiving help with child care and advice about how to raise children, and grandparents who remain close to their grandchildren may be healthier, happier, and more active.

Tips for Staying in Touch
In today's world, though, families may be scattered across the country and jam-packed school and work schedules may interfere with regular time with grandparents. Despite physical distance or busy schedules, you can encourage your child to develop a closer bond with his grandparents by trying these tips:

• Visit often. If your child's grandparents live nearby, make an effort to carve time out of your busy schedule for regular visits. Encourage the grandparents to drop by your home, too. Plan regular trips to see out-of-town grandmas and grandpas. Even if visits are infrequent, anticipating and planning the next trip can help your child see the joy in spending time with relatives.
• Stay in touch with technology. Use the telephone and email to talk, write, and send pictures and sound files of your growing child to his grandparents. If your child's grandparents don't own a computer, send videos of your child doing his favorite activities, like taking a bath or playing with a pet. Or have your child's grandparent record a reading of a favorite bedtime story and play it for your child before he turns in for the night.
• Say cheese. Post snapshots of your child's grandparents in a prominent spot in your home, and point them out to your child often. Or place family pictures in a special photo album, and page through it frequently while naming the family members.
• Sound mail call. Does your child love receiving mail? Send your child's grandparents a box of postcards and some stamps, and ask them to send your child regular letters. Another way to encourage communication is to have your child write letters every week at the same time - both kids and grandparents will anticipate the regular communication.
• Pass it on. Most grandparents have hobbies or special skills - such as knitting, woodworking, or cooking - that they'd love to pass on to their grandchildren. Provide your children with the time and tools they need to learn these skills from their grandparents.
• Chart a family tree. Both younger and older kids enjoy learning about their ancestors and relatives. Encourage your child's grandparents to share stories of their families. You can even provide paper and drawing supplies so they can chart the family tree!

Safety Away From Home
Whether your child's grandparents live nearby or you're planning a far-away visit, don't forget to make safety a priority. Grandparents may not be accustomed to having young children in the house, and the presence of household dangers could mar your visit with trips to the emergency room.

Use a household safety checklist to childproof your child's grandparent's home. Take special care to ensure that dangerous items and substances, such as cleaning products, medications, razors, and knives, are out of reach or locked in a cabinet. Your child's grandparent's may not realize that small or breakable items pose a choking or safety risk to your child. Here's a quick childproofing tip: when visiting, take a quick look around the room for objects that could be dangerous for your child. Gather these items up in a box or laundry basket, and place them out of reach to keep your child safe.

In addition, stairs should be blocked so your child won't fall, and pet dishes, toilets, buckets, and other containers of water should be drained, locked, or emptied to eliminate drowning hazards. To make the job easier, you might want to bring your own childproofing gear, such as outlet covers, cabinet and toilet locks, and safety gates.