Grandparents can share a picture book with a child over a video call, even when they live far apart. Start with clear sound, a book ready to open and permission to stop before the story ends. A child can listen, point or briefly join the call. Reading together need not become a performance for the camera.
The phone is leaning against a mug. Grandma is finding the page, the child can mostly see the ceiling and a parent is holding both the book and the charging cable. A simpler setup may help more than another request to sit still.
Set up the call before adding the book
Test the picture and sound between the adults first. Put the device somewhere stable, away from hot drinks and trailing cables. Decide who will show the pages and who will turn them. A parent might hold the book beside the child while a grandparent reads from a separate copy. Alternatively, the grandparent can show the pictures to the camera. Check what the child can actually see before beginning. The State Library of Queensland's article about video calls with grandparents, published on 6 August 2020, suggests practical changes including keeping hands free and reducing background noise. It also treats shared activities as ways to connect. A book can provide something to talk about without becoming the entire purpose of the call. The situations below are original illustrative examples, not reports about particular families.
Give the first attempt a small, clear ending
Illustrative example: Grandad calls after snack time. A parent says, “We can look at two pages. Then you can show Grandad your toy car, or we can say goodbye.” The child chooses a picture of a house. Grandad describes something he notices, waits and lets the child turn the page.
You do not need an exact number of minutes. A concrete ending, such as one spread followed by goodbye, may be easier to understand than “a little longer”. If the child wants another page, agree on it together. If they leave, first find out whether they are getting something or have finished with the activity.
A small familiar opening can also help the adults stay coordinated: say hello, show the cover and choose a place to begin. It does not have to become another commitment that the family must keep every week. Sometimes the plan can simply be a brief hello.
Does the child have to look at the camera?
No. Shared family reading does not require a test of eye contact or posture. A child might sit beside a parent, keep a book on the floor or listen briefly from outside the frame. Where someone is looking does not tell you everything they are taking in.
Explain this to the other adult beforehand: “If there is no answer straight away, please wait. You don't need to repeat it more loudly.” A comment can sometimes leave more room than another question: “That character is carrying a very big bag.” For more examples, see reading with a child who does not want to answer questions.
What if the connection freezes or everyone talks at once?
A slight delay makes overlapping speech easy. Try a simple sequence: one person shows the page, another comments, then everyone leaves a pause. Avoid turning every small technical fault into a lengthy discussion in front of the child.
Illustrative example: Grandma finishes a sentence, but the final words cut out. There is no need to restart the whole passage. A parent might say, “The sound isn't working well. We'll look at this page here, then show Grandma the picture you chose.” If the connection remains difficult, read at home and arrange another call.
Adjust the volume or picture if either is uncomfortable, or end the call. This is not an endurance exercise. Next time, a quieter room, a smaller plan or another time of day might suit the family better.
Choose a book without creating a shopping list
Begin with something the child already knows or chooses. Grandparents do not need to buy a stack of new titles. Two matching copies may make it easier to find the same page, but they are optional. Agreeing on who shows the book is more important.
For a story that can open conversations about difference, explore the TAMITOS children’s book. We are recommending our own work as the team behind TAMITOS. Check the book information and sample before choosing. Buying a particular title is not a requirement for a successful family call.
Use books you own or have properly borrowed. A private reading activity does not require recording the whole book or publishing photographs of every page. Discuss any recording of the child beforehand, and respect their wish not to be filmed.
Two languages and different family expectations
If a grandparent reads in a different language from the parent, you do not have to translate and test every sentence. Choose an approach the family can follow. Our article on reading in a bilingual family explores that separate question in more detail.
Agree on interruptions too. As with visiting grandparents, one specific agreement can prevent competing expectations: today is for sharing a story, with no requirement to answer questions.
Common questions
What if the child does not want a video call?
Offer a choice without persuasion: a spoken hello, showing the cover or no call today. Do not surprise the child with a camera already running.
Should we always finish the story?
No. Mark the page and return to it another time if you want. Whether the meeting worked for the people involved matters more than the number of pages read.
Can a video call replace a visit?
It can be one way to stay in contact when meeting in person is not possible. It does not have to recreate everything a family shares face to face. Sometimes a short hello and an agreed “another time” are enough.
