New Book Offers Creative Solutions for Nurturing Long-Distance Relationships between Adults and the Children They Love
MINNEAPOLIS: When caring adults live, work, or travel away from a young person they love, staying connected can be a challenge. With more than half of U.S. children spending part of their childhood living apart from at least one of their parents, (Zill, 1996; Furstenberg and Cherlin, 1991), more has to be done to ensure that kids have the loving support from adults they need to grow up healthy and responsible. Stay Close: 40 Clever Ways to Connect with Kids When You’re Apart, a new book from Search Institute, is filled with ideas for adults to not only stay connected, but hold meaningful, deeper relationships when it is necessary for them to be away.
“Here’s a book you’ll want to keep out and refer to again and again to spark that next idea for keeping in touch with kids,” says Vicki Lansky, author of 101 Ways to Make Your Child Feel Special, and Vicki Lansky’s Divorce Book for Parents.
All of the ideas in the book are based on Search Institute’s framework of Developmental Assets—a body of scientific research that reveals the positive experiences, relationships, and values all children need to succeed. For instance, Developmental Asset #3 stresses the importance of other adult relationships, and says that children should have support from adults other than their parents.
Through activities, inspiring stories, and helpful tips, Stay Close shows adults and youth how easy and fun it is to bridge the physical (and generational) gap: play an online game together, order a pizza delivery for a child from miles away, hide loving notes during visits, or start a traveling photo journal. Tested by real adults and young people, these unique ideas offer encouragement and motivation to move relationships from A to Z and every stage in between: establishing connections, maintaining closeness, and adapting to the changing needs of kids as they grow up.
“Well written, and offering dozens of practical suggestions for adult caregivers, [these] ideas for establishing healthy intergenerational relationships range far beyond the telephone connection into more creative territory…Stay Close is an important new contribution to the literature on building healthy interpersonal relationships, whether at a long, or short distance,” says Selma Wasserman, author of The Long Distance Grandmother.
The book is divided into three sections: activities for starting your long-distance relationship _, in-person activities _(Now That We’re Together), and ways to stay connected over time _. Included in the book are tips for finding out more information on specific ideas—creating virtually endless variations and possibilities—and a section of Frequently Asked Questions, such as “What if I’m way behind on technology?” or “What could a young person and I possibly have in common?” Although nothing can replace time spent together, _Stay Close is sure to help adults generate and sustain a lasting long-distance relationship that doesn’t feel distant at all.
Tenessa Gemelke worked and volunteered for seven years as an activity leader in neighborhood recreation centers, youth clubs, library programs, and mentoring programs. She is the publishing manager at Search Institute Press and co-author of Building Assets Is Elementary: Group Activities for Helping Kids Ages 8–12 Succeed.
About Search Institute Press
Search Institute Press is the publishing division of Search Institute, an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization whose mission is to provide leadership, knowledge, and resources to promote healthy children, youth, and communities. To accomplish this mission, the institute conducts research, communicates new knowledge, and brings together community, state, and national leaders. For more information, visit search-institute.org.
Book Details
Title: Stay Close: 40 Clever Ways to Connect with Kids When You’re Apart
Author: Tenessa Gemelke
Publisher: Search Institute Press, Distributed by Independent Publishers Group
Publication: November 2005, 5 1/2 × 7 1/2, 148 pages, paper, $9.95 (CAN $13.95), ISBN 13: 9781574828702
Subject: Parenting/Family Care
Available at bookstores everywhere and through Independent Publishers Group, 814 N. Franklin St., Chicago, IL 60610. Toll-free number for orders only: 800-888-4741. Visit online at ipgbook.com.
Publicity Contact
Bill Kauffmann, Trade Sales Coordinator
612-692-5527 • billk@search-institute.org
