Photos from the family, straight to the TV in their room
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Ideas for the grandkids

40 things the grandkids can send Nana and Poppa

Grandparents rarely want polished photos. They want to feel part of everyday life: what you ate, what you made, where you went, what made you laugh. Here are simple ideas for mokopuna of every age, and for the grown-ups too.

Set up a screenHow it works

Everyday moments (the ones they miss most)

  • The walk to school
  • What’s in the lunchbox
  • A new haircut
  • The pet doing something silly
  • Rainy-day huts made of couch cushions
  • The view from the car on a road trip
  • Dinner you cooked together
  • Bedtime story, read to camera

Things they made

  • A drawing or painting of Nana
  • Lego creations
  • Baking, especially one of Nana’s recipes
  • A card for a birthday or Mother’s Day
  • Garden veggies you grew
  • A school project
  • A dance routine (a short video)
  • A song learned on the recorder or ukulele

Milestones and big days

  • First day of school or a new school
  • Lost teeth
  • Certificates and awards
  • Sports games, goals and prizegivings
  • Kapa haka, school productions and recitals
  • Birthdays and blowing out candles
  • Swimming badges
  • A new baby in the family

Memories they’ll love

  • An old family photo you found
  • A place they used to live or holiday
  • A photo of their old school, church or marae
  • Their favourite beach today
  • A recipe of theirs you still use
  • A “this reminded me of you” photo
  • The family bach
  • Their old car, house or garden

Quick messages that make their day

  • “Good morning Nana!”
  • “Thinking of you”
  • “Can’t wait to see you on Sunday”
  • “Guess what happened today…”
  • A question they can answer at your next visit
  • A photo of the weather where you are
  • A thank-you for something they taught you
  • “Love you Poppa” in the kids’ own writing

Tips for photos that look great on a TV

  • Hold the phone sideways (landscape) so it fills the screen
  • Get close: faces matter more than backgrounds
  • Keep videos short: under a minute is perfect
  • Add a line of text so Nana knows what she’s looking at
  • Little and often beats a big album once a month

Questions

How often should we send something?

Little and often works best. A photo or two a few times a week keeps the screen fresh and gives Nana something new to look forward to.

Can young kids send by themselves?

A parent approves each new sender once. After that, kids can send from a family phone or tablet using the send link.

Can we send videos?

Yes, short videos play on the TV. Keep them under a minute and a half.

Read next

Send photos to Nana & PoppaStaying in touch with a grandparent in careGifts for Nana in a rest homeAll guides

Tonight, Nana could be looking at the grandkids.

Set up a screen in five minutes and send the first photo straight away.

Set up a screen