Use technology to keep in touch:

• Join a social networking site (never done that? ask the young ones for help!). Requirements: a computer, internet connection (suggestion: broadband from cable company), a photo of yourself or your choosing in digital format on your computer (download from digital camera)
• Does your computer have a webcam? Do your grandchildren have access to a computer with a webcam? Explore how to use (i.e., SKYPE)—need some computer savvy help with that.

And the “old fashioned way”–(beyond the essential birthday and gift cards, phone calls, occasional trips): Have photographs of your childhood, your children’s childhoods, your grandchildren’s childhood? Make an actual photo book or scrapbook with captions you write to send them on their birthdays or special holidays. And ask them to send you photos they have of themselves and their families. www.grandparentoptions.com

PS: Just found a lovely post on the subject by Susan Miller, Ed.D., Scholastic Magazine Website (http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=1444)

Update 3.21.12: http://www.reading2u.com/ (A wonderful way to insert your voice reading a story, a treasure for your grandchild to listen to whenever they wish!)