The Impact of Video Chatting on Toddlers’ Relationships with Grandparents: Insights from Recent Research
Screen conversations with grandparents boost vocabulary and nurture family connections.
As families become increasingly geographically dispersed and external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic disrupt traditional face-to-face connections, video chatting has emerged as a critical tool for maintaining relationships. For toddlers and their grandparents, this technology presents unique challenges and opportunities. Drawing from recent studies, this article synthesizes what we know about how video chatting shapes toddlers’ relationships with their grandparents, the developmental effects, best practices, cultural implications, and the evolving digital family landscape.
Table of Contents
- Introduction: Context and Importance
- How Families Use Video Chat: Patterns and Preferences
- Developmental Impact on Toddlers
- Emotional Bonds and Social Connection
- Barriers and Facilitators to Effective Video Chat
- Cultural Transmission through Video Chat
- Best Practices for Engaging Toddlers via Video Chat
- Video Chat and the Future of Intergenerational Communication
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Introduction: Context and Importance
Over recent years, the way families connect has changed rapidly, especially in situations where grandparents and grandchildren are separated by distance, travel restrictions, or health concerns. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, forced many families to substitute in-person contact with video chatting—notably affecting toddlers’ interactions with grandparents. This shift has led researchers to examine how such changes influence children’s development, emotional well-being, and intergenerational bonds.
How Families Use Video Chat: Patterns and Preferences
Numerous studies, including large-scale surveys by the AARP and university research collaborations, highlight how video chat frequency and activities vary across families. According to an AARP survey completed during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- 71% of grandparents with grandchildren aged birth to 5 increased video chat use due to pandemic safety measures.
- 40% of grandparents reported video chatting daily or several times per week with their grandchildren.
- Most sessions were under 30 minutes, with many lasting only 5-15 minutes, aligning with toddlers’ attention spans.
- Grandparents engaged toddlers with activities like singing, peek-a-boo, reading books, show and tell, and short scavenger hunts .
The greater the frequency of use and variety of activities, the stronger the reported sense of closeness and enjoyment among grandparents and grandchildren.
Developmental Impact on Toddlers
Language Acquisition and Cognitive Growth
There is growing evidence that video chatting supports cognitive and language development in young children, particularly when adults on the other end actively engage, smile, respond, and build on what the child says. Research by the American Academy of Pediatrics and developmental psychologists agrees that:
- Toddlers can learn new words and concepts through interactive video chats when adults are responsive .
- Exposure to multiple languages and cultural practices can occur when families use video chat to maintain cross-cultural connections .
- Sensitive, contingent back-and-forth interaction is critical—children are less likely to benefit from passive screen exposure or non-responsive partners .
Video chat is distinct from other forms of screen time—such as watching unidirectional videos—because of the real-time, social contingency it offers, allowing children to interact and receive immediate feedback.
Social and Emotional Development
Importantly, studies revealed that grandparent sensitivity—the degree to which grandparents respond appropriately and warmly to the toddler—directly predicts the child’s positive emotions during both in-person and video chat interactions, regardless of age or how much contact they had previously . This predictive factor held true whether the interaction occurred face-to-face or across a screen.
Emotional Bonds and Social Connection
The emotional aspect of grandparent-toddler relationships via video chat is a focal point in recent research:
- 82% of grandparents surveyed said they enjoyed video chats with their grandchildren very much, and more frequent interactions correlated with stronger feelings of emotional closeness .
- Families who lived furthest apart—sometimes thousands of miles—reported the highest emotional benefit and perceived closeness due to regular video chatting .
- Video chat helped both grandparents and grandchildren combat social isolation, supporting mental health and family cohesion during periods of forced separation (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic) .
Researchers have highlighted that video chat not only maintained but sometimes deepened these intergenerational connections, providing a flexible window into each other’s daily lives.
Barriers and Facilitators to Effective Video Chat
Common Barriers
- Technological challenges: Older adults may initially struggle with devices and video chat platforms, though familiarity usually increases with use. Device availability and ease-of-use are critical.
- Physical distance: Geographical separation, ironically, both necessitates and can sometimes hinder video chat; however, studies show that distance is overcome when there is strong motivation and adequate technology .
- Distractions and toddler attention: Toddlers may lose focus quickly, necessitating short sessions with highly engaging content .
- Competing screen time habits: Balancing video chats with other, less interactive screen activities is important for healthy development.
Facilitators of Success
- Variety of activities: Interactive games, songs, storytelling, and show-and-tell enhance engagement.
- Parental support: Parents often act as mediators, helping toddlers focus and guiding the conversation, particularly in younger children .
- Preparation and routine: Establishing rituals or set times for calls creates anticipation and stability for both child and grandparent.
| Activity | Engagement Level | Developmental Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Peek-a-boo/Songs | High | Social & Emotional |
| Reading Picture Books | Moderate-High | Language, Cognition |
| Show-and-tell | High | Expressive Language |
| Short scavenger hunts | High | Attention, Memory |
Cultural Transmission through Video Chat
Video chat is increasingly recognized as a platform for cultural exchange and transmission. In families where grandparents live in different countries or cultural contexts, video chat provides opportunities for:
- Sharing family stories, traditions, and holidays in real time .
- Exposing toddlers to new languages, foods, and customs, which can foster cross-cultural competence.
- Maintaining a meaningful sense of identity for children in multicultural families.
Cultural continuity is crucial for child development, and video chat can bridge distances that might otherwise lead to disconnection or loss of heritage.
Best Practices for Engaging Toddlers via Video Chat
- Keep sessions brief but frequent, recognizing toddlers’ limited attention spans.
- Make calls interactive—ask questions, play games, and react to the child’s expressions or words.
- Use objects or books present in both homes (e.g., matching toys or storybooks) to create shared experiences.
- Ensure good lighting and minimal background noise to support engagement.
- Allow the toddler to move around if needed rather than forcing them to sit still.
- Respect the child’s mood and stamina—do not push calls when they are tired or upset.
Researchers also highlight the importance of flexibility: what works for one family or one child may need adapting for another. As children age, length and type of activities can evolve.
Video Chat and the Future of Intergenerational Communication
While video chat arose as an emergency measure during the pandemic, it’s likely to remain a regular part of many families’ communication repertoire. Studies predict an ongoing role for video chat in cases of geographic separation (e.g., international families, military families, work relocations), as well as between in-person visits. Video chat doesn’t fully replace the benefits of face-to-face interaction, but it can buffer against the negative effects of separation and enrich both grandparent and child experiences .
As technology continues to improve—offering higher-quality video, child-friendly interfaces, and greater accessibility—the ability of families to maintain strong, emotionally rich bonds across distances will only grow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can toddlers truly benefit from video chatting, or is it just a substitute for in-person contact?
A: Recent research shows that, with engaged and sensitive grandparents, toddlers can experience positive emotional interactions and learn new words via video chat. However, video chat is most effective as a supplement to (not a replacement for) in-person connection when possible .
Q: How can grandparents keep a toddler engaged during a video call?
A: Use interactive activities such as singing, peek-a-boo, reading, short scavenger hunts, or show-and-tell. Themed sessions and familiar objects also help maintain interest .
Q: What should parents do to facilitate effective video chats?
A: Parents can help set up the environment, explain the process to their child, guide the toddler during the call, and encourage both sides to take turns. Support should decrease as the toddler becomes more familiar with the format .
Q: Are there any negative effects of video chatting for toddlers?
A: Current evidence suggests that, when used interactively and in moderation, video chatting does not have negative developmental effects and can help mitigate social isolation. However, passive or overly long sessions may be less beneficial.
Q: Does cultural background affect how families use video chat?
A: Yes, some families use video chat extensively for cultural transmission, language exposure, or holiday celebrations, especially when separated by distance or borders .
References
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9539353/
- https://college.georgetown.edu/news-story/study-by-professor-finds-video-chat-helps-grandparents-maintain-relationships-with-grandchildren-diminishes-feelings-of-isolation/
- https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/technology/internet-media-devices/video-chat-grandparents-grandchildren-pandemic/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2022/9454654
- https://red.library.usd.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1031&context=se-fp
- https://news.arizona.edu/news/u-researchers-discover-screen-time-surprise-under-grandparents-care
- https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/tips-for-video-chatting-with-toddlers/
- https://news.lafayette.edu/2024/08/13/grandparents-grandkids-and-zoom/
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