[platinumblondemom]

My 10-year-old's BFF is moving across the country, and I'm trying to find creative, yet not-too-expensive, ways for them to keep in touch. I've thought about a circle-journal-idea, but am unsure of how to get it going. Phone calls, emails, I know. Any other ideas?

[QueenAngie]

Welcome to the board, Platinumblondemom!

My son used to play on-line chess with a cousin every night.
I do not know how it was set up, but he made his move and could
type in comments in a comment box to have a little chat.

It wouldn't have to be chess, it would be whatever game they like together.

Could your daughter send mail USPS postcards to her BBF?

Ecards are free online.

Again, welcome to the board!

[MissyChrissy]

Email is really the way to go. There are online games, emailing pictures, instant messaging. It's not the same as her living here, but it sure beats what happened when I was growing up. Long distance call charges made keeping in touch vis phone impossible...there was only snail mail.

Perhaps sending small packages to each other 2-3 times a year. On another board I'm a part of we send each other gifts fairly frequently...it helps keep the bond by having something tangible to touch...at least, that's my feeling on it. But I can get very sentimental about stuff too.

Poor kid...what an adjustment to have to go through. I know it's a part of life, but I always feel sad for kids when they're moved apart like that. My daughter (thankfully) only had 1 go to PA, and not too far away. They are still able to spend the night together every other month or so.

[jadis]

Yep- emails are the way to go.....I would also suggest as a going away present you buy (if possible) both girls this set of two books by Paula Danzinger and Ann M Martin- PS Longer Letter Later, and Snail Mail No More. It's about two best friends in the sixth and seventh grade, and the correspondences they send when one moves away. They are really neat, because the books are basically the letters they send to each other.

Also- maybe you could work out a deal with her whereby if she does x amount of chores, it translates to long distance minutes. That way, every few weeks she can talk with her on the phone for limited amounts of time.

[purelegance]

Originally Posted by QueenAngie

Welcome to the board, Platinumblondemom!

My son used to play on-line chess with a cousin every night.
I do not know how it was set up, but he made his move and could
type in comments in a comment box to have a little chat.

It wouldn't have to be chess, it would be whatever game they like together.

Could your daughter send mail USPS postcards to her BBF?

Ecards are free online.

Again, welcome to the board!

this was off yahoo games probably. yahoo messenger also has an option to play games in the IM window.

the circle journal is a great idea, but i'd worry about her parents not being as willing/able to get to the postoffice often. maybe they could create a blog that the 2 of them share the password to. (i know alot of blog-running sites have the option to make blogs unseeable by other people).