There are few joys quite like seeing a grandchild’s face light up on a screen — even from a thousand miles away. And here’s the good news: video-calling them is far easier than you may think. You don’t need to be “good with computers.” You likely already own everything required. And once you’ve done it once, you’ll wonder why you ever worried.

Let me walk you through it gently — how to set things up, which app to use, and (the part nobody tells you) how to make the calls actually fun for a wiggly little one. Pour a cup of coffee; this is a happy bit of learning.

First, a reassuring truth

You probably already have what you need: a smartphone or a tablet with a camera, which almost all of them have. There’s no special equipment to buy.

The only real question is which app to use — and the simple answer is: whichever one the rest of your family already uses. Ask your son or daughter, “What should I use to video-call you?” and let their answer decide. Don’t overthink it. We’ll cover the four common choices in a moment.

Set up your phone so it’s easy on the eyes (and fingers)

Before your first call, it’s worth making your phone a little friendlier. Any grandchild or a helper at the library can turn these on for you in five minutes:

• Make the text and icons bigger. Both iPhones and Android phones let you enlarge everything in the settings, under “Display” or “Accessibility.” Bigger buttons mean fewer mis-taps.
• Consider a “simple mode.” If regular phones feel cluttered, iPhones have Assistive Access, Samsung phones have Easy Mode, and Google Pixel phones have Simple View — each strips the screen down to big, clear buttons and can put your family’s photos right on the home screen for one-tap calling.

You don’t need these to make a call — but they take a lot of the frustration out of it.

The four apps — and the simplest way to use each

Here are the four you’ll hear about, with the easiest path through each one.

FaceTime — if everyone in the family has Apple

If both you and your grandchildren use iPhones or iPads, FaceTime is the least fussy of all — it’s built right in, with no app to download and no account to create.

The easiest way to use it is to skip the screen entirely and just ask. Press and hold the side button (or say “Hey Siri”), then speak plainly: “FaceTime Leo.” That’s it — no icons to hunt for, no menus. Just make sure the grandchild is saved in your contacts with an easy name first.

WhatsApp — if the family is a mix of iPhone and Android

When some of you have iPhones and others have Android phones, WhatsApp is the great bridge — it works on both, and it uses your phone number instead of a password to remember.

Once it’s set up (have a helper do the one-time setup), it works like a familiar phone. Tap the green WhatsApp icon, tap “Calls” at the bottom, find your grandchild’s name, and tap the little video-camera icon beside it. To hang up, tap the red button. Simple as that.

Zoom — for the big family gatherings

When the whole family wants to gather — several households at once, for a birthday or holiday — Zoom is often the choice, and someone else usually sets it up.

Your only job is to join. They’ll send you a link by text or email. Tap it. A box will pop up nagging you to “download the app” — tap “Cancel.” Then look for the small words “Join from your browser” and tap those instead. Allow it to use your camera and microphone, type your name, and you’re in — no app, no account.

Google Meet — for Android and Gmail families

Google Meet works much the same way and is especially handy for Android and Gmail users. Someone sends you a link; you tap it; it opens in your web browser. Allow the camera and microphone, type your name, and tap “Ask to join” (Google cutely calls this “knocking”). The host lets you in, and there you all are.

Here’s a quick guide to which is which:

The secret nobody tells you: with little ones, play — don’t chat

Here’s the most important thing in this whole guide, and it will save you a lot of heartache: young children can’t “chat.” If you get on a call expecting a nice back-and-forth conversation with a three-year-old, you’ll both end up frustrated when they squirm, act silly, or wander off. That’s not a failed call, and it’s certainly not a lack of love — it’s just how little ones are built.

The trick is to stop talking and start playing. Give the call a game or an activity, and suddenly it comes alive. Here are ideas by age:

Babies and toddlers (0–2):

• Peek-a-boo. Cover your camera with your hand — “Where did Grandma go?” — then pop back into view. They’ll squeal every time.
• Sing with hand motions. “Itsy-Bitsy Spider,” “I’m a Little Teapot” — the motions keep their eyes glued to you.
• Show-and-tell. Have them bring a favorite toy to the camera, and you show them something from your house in return.

Preschoolers (3–5):

• Scavenger hunt. “Can you go find me something red? Something fuzzy?” Off they race and come back proud — great for burning energy.
• Simon Says. “Nana says touch your nose… Nana says hop like a bunny!” It delights them and sharpens their listening.
• The memory tray. Show a few objects on a tray, cover the camera, secretly remove one, then ask which is missing.

School-age and older (6+):

• Read the same book. Get two copies of the same book and take turns reading pages aloud. It’s a bond that lasts.
• Cook or craft together. Prop up your tablet in the kitchen and be their “sous-chef” through a simple recipe, or draw pictures of each other.
• Word games. 20 Questions, Charades, Hangman, Mad Libs — no props needed, just laughter.

A few gentle tips that make all the difference

• Set a standing time. A regular Sunday-afternoon call means someone will always be there to answer — no disappointing unanswered rings, and it becomes a treasured routine.
• Short is perfectly fine. You don’t need an hour. Ten or fifteen minutes of real, delighted attention means far more than a long, restless call. Most family calls are brief — and that’s just right.
• Let the parent help. With little ones, the mom or dad on the other end is your partner — pointing the child to the screen, holding up the toy, giving a hug on your behalf.
• Don’t take the wiggles personally. When a toddler bounces away, they’re not bored of you — they’re just two. Keep it light and playful.

If you’d like a hand getting started

There’s no shame in wanting help — that’s what these resources are for. Your local library or senior center very often has patient volunteers who’ll sit with you one-on-one and walk you through it, free of charge. And Senior Planet (from AARP) runs free classes and a friendly technology helpline designed for exactly this, with no judgment and no rush. The best first call is often one a grandchild or helper makes with you, so you can see how simple — and how joyful — it really is.

The bottom line

Video-calling your grandchildren isn’t about mastering technology. It’s about being there — for the giggles, the lost teeth, the proud drawings held up to the camera. The tools are simpler than ever, one of them is almost certainly already in your hand, and the only thing you truly need to bring is your delight in that little face on the screen. Set up a regular time, plan a silly game, and press the green button. They’ll be so happy to see you.