How to Schedule Weekly Video Calls with Grandchildren

A standing weekly video call with your grandchildren is one of the warmest habits you can build. When the day and time stay the same each week, the call becomes a tradition rather than something extra to remember. Children of any age, from toddlers waving at the screen to college students checking in between classes, benefit from a regular face-to-face moment with a grandparent. You benefit, too. Research from AARP and the National Institute on Aging shows that older adults who stay connected with family members report less loneliness and better overall mood.

The key to making weekly calls happen is removing every speed bump. Pick one app and stick with it. If everyone in your family has an iPhone, FaceTime is built in and works with one tap. If the family is mixed between iPhones and Android phones, Zoom or Google Meet works on both, and the same link can be reused each week. Choose a day and time that respects the family's schedule, especially school nights and bedtimes for younger grandchildren. Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings tend to work well for most families.

Keep the call short and predictable. Twenty to thirty minutes is a sweet spot. Long calls feel like a chore, while short calls feel like a treat. Have one or two small things ready to share: a photo from the week, a story about your day, a question you saved up. With younger grandchildren, plan a tiny activity such as reading a picture book together, doing a quick craft, or playing tic-tac-toe with paper and a marker held up to the camera.

If the call gets missed, do not turn it into a guilt trip. Life happens. Send a short text to reschedule, and pick the call back up the following week. Consistency over time matters more than any single missed appointment.