GUIDE

Our 10-year-old granddaughter may spend a week with us this summer, from across the country. How do we make it a good week and keep her parents in the loop?

By the seenow! teamLast updated:

Settle the travel plan with her parents first, then plan the week with her, mixing a few outings with ordinary days at your house. Agree on one short call a day at a time that works across time zones, and send her parents small glimpses of the day instead of a full report.

WHY

Why this happens

For many American families, Grandma's house is a plane ride away. In AARP's 2011 grandparenting survey, 43% of grandparents said they travel more than 200 miles to see the grandchildren who live farthest from them, and 10% travel that far to see even the closest ones. A week-long stay is often the only stretch of everyday time those grandparents get.

Time with grandchildren without the parents is common. An AARP article on its Grandparents Today research says about 40% of grandparents travel with their grandchildren, and about one-third have taken them on trips without the parents. A week at your house is the same idea without the hotel: her first stretch of everyday life with you, in your kitchen, on your schedule.

A 10-year-old is old enough to have opinions about how the week should go and young enough to get homesick at bedtime. Her parents, two or three time zones away, will want to know she's all right without hovering. Planning for both sides is what makes the week feel easy.

HOW TO

What you can do starting today

  1. Settle the travel plan with her parents firstNo app needed

    Decide together who brings her and who takes her home: a parent flying with her, you flying out to get her, or meeting halfway by car. TSA doesn't require ID from children under 18 traveling within the U.S., but airlines set their own rules for young travelers, especially for a child flying without an adult, so the parents should check directly with the airline before booking. Don't plan the week until this part is set.

    Source: TSA: My child is traveling alone; do they need REAL ID?

  2. Plan the week with her, by phone, before she comesNo app needed

    Call her a few weeks ahead and let her choose two or three things from a short list: a lake day, a baseball game, baking her mom's favorite pie, a day at the pool. Leave the rest of the week loose. Kids this age like ordinary days at a grandparent's house as much as outings: the grocery store, the garden, a board game that runs all week.

  3. Give her a project that goes home with herNo app needed

    A recipe card in your handwriting that she cooks with you, a scrapbook of the week, old family photos of her mom or dad at her age with the stories behind them. Something she carries home gives the week a shape and gives her something to show her parents.

  4. Pick one call time that works for both coastsNo app needed

    Agree with her parents on one short call a day, at a time that's easy in both time zones, such as after dinner your time. Avoid making it the very last thing before bed on the first nights, when missing home is strongest. If she wants to call more, let her; if she forgets, that usually means she's having fun.

  5. Send the parents small glimpses, not a full report

    Her parents don't need a play-by-play. A few seconds of her laughing at the pool or flour on her face in the kitchen tells them more than a long text. Send it once a day, at a time that fits their workday.

WITH SEENOW!

Doing it with seenow!

seenow! is a private family app where each person shares a short clip, about 2 seconds a day. It fits the last step: letting her parents see the week without long messages.

A child insists on taking off her own rain boot while her mother listens
Grandma laughs when the dog brings the ball back for one more throw
A boy pauses before launching a paper airplane beside his dad
A little girl peeks out of her blanket fort with a secret smile
AI-generated images inspired by how the app is used.
  • Post a 2-second clip of her day at your house in the family group. Only invited members see it, and her parents get a notification when something new is posted.
  • The app comes down to two actions, taking a clip and watching clips, so you can keep it up all week without learning anything new.

What seenow! can’t do

  • seenow! doesn't handle calls, travel plans or reminders. Arrange the trip and the daily call with her parents directly.
  • It doesn't replace hearing her voice. A 2-second clip shows she's fine; the call is where she tells the story.

POINT

Things to watch for in this situation

Ask her parents about house rules before she comes

Screen time, bedtime, phone use and sweets are the usual points of friction. You don't have to run your house exactly like theirs, but knowing their rules lets you decide which ones to keep and say so up front.

Let it be her choice to come

A child who wants to come has a better week. If she isn't ready this summer, a few days with you during a family visit, or a one-on-one day out, builds toward a longer stay later.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How old should a child be to stay with grandparents for a week?

There is no set age. It depends on whether the child wants to go, whether she has stayed away from home before, and how the trip itself will work. Her parents are the ones to decide, with her.

What should we do with a grandchild visiting for a week?

Let her pick two or three special things, then leave plenty of ordinary time: cooking, gardening, errands, a game that runs all week and stories about her parents as kids.

How often should she call home?

Agree on it with her parents before she arrives. One short call a day at a set time is a simple place to start; more is fine if she asks.