Storytime With Grandparents on a Video Call

For storytime with grandparents over a video call, choose a short familiar book, put one adult in charge of the pages and agree on a clear ending. If a late call is awkward, hold storytime earlier and keep the usual bedtime routine afterward.

Decide who holds the book

When both households have the same book, the grandparent can read while the nearby adult turns the child’s copy. Agree on a simple cue such as “ready for the next page?” This prevents a child from trying to follow a tiny moving picture on a screen.

With only one copy, the reader can hold up each illustration briefly before lowering the book to read. Test the angle with the other adult first. Keep the lamp in front of the page rather than shining behind it. The goal is a comfortable shared visit, not a polished broadcast.

Give the child one way to join

Choose one recurring action: say the repeated line, point to an animal, or decide whether a character opens the red door or the blue door in a made-up story. If the child wanders away, the nearby adult can describe what is happening without demanding a performance for the camera.

Try this opening: “Grandpa has one story, then we’ll wave goodnight. You can sit with me or look at your copy.” A familiar boundary also helps the grandparent know when the visit is ending.

Use a five-line call plan

Before the call: agree on the book and approximate length. At hello: let the child share one ordinary detail. During the story: keep page turns clear. At the end: choose one brief goodbye. After the call: put the device away and continue whatever your household normally does next.

If relatives live in different time zones, move the visit to a convenient afternoon or weekend. Calling it “storytime” instead of “bedtime” removes the need to make everyone’s clocks line up.

Prepare for the connection to fail

Keep a familiar book nearby. If the audio keeps cutting out, say, “We’ll hear the rest together another day,” and let the nearby adult finish a different story. Repeated reconnection attempts do not have to become the evening’s main activity.

A separately recorded family story is another option, if the speaker wants to make one. Ask before recording a call or sharing someone’s voice. Day2Tale narration is a different format; do not assume it reproduces a relative’s voice or provides a video-call feature.

Day2Tale is an optional way to turn a moment from your child’s day into a personalized narrated story. A parent sets it up and reviews the result before sharing it. The ideas above work without an app.

Sources: Day2Tale support and product features