child and mother drawing

Remember far-away grandparents this Sunday. Credit: Getty Images

You might be tempted to overlook National Grandparent's Day if your children's grandparents live far away, especially if you've never celebrated it in the past. But the older and more long-distance the grandparents are, the more a special a gesture for Grandparents Day can be.

Grandparent's Day, held annually the first Sunday after Labor Day, hasn't caught on like Mother's Day and Father's Day, which have become big commercial holidays. It's often assumed that Grandparent's Day is meant to honor commercialism more than family -- in fact, the opposite is true. The holiday began in the 1970s, started by a West Virginian housewife named Marian McQuade as a day to honor and visit elderly family members, especially those in nursing homes with few visits from family. No matter the grandparent's situation, though, the holiday is meant to bring the older and younger generations together.

Even when you can't visit in person, celebrating Grandparent's Day can still be special for all ages, and you can help:

Preschoolers, if they're old enough, can help make homemade cards to send. Though many grandparents today are fully online, sending a handmade paper card and some current photos can be a sweet surprise for a long-distance grandparent.

Elementary school-aged grandchildren grow and change so fast -- make a Grandparent's Day video with the kids. Let them come up with the ideas, even if they seem silly. You be the camera person. The computer may be the most convenient way to view video for the grandparents; if not, burn it onto DVD and mail it.

Tweens can be crafty: Buy a kit to make a simple, sentimental gift such as a handmade photo frame, and add a current picture.

Teens can showcase their talents on video if they play music, sing or act; visual artists can create a piece to send; poets can send a verse. Even something as simple as a handwritten letter is a great way to observe Grandparent's Day.

Of course, if you don't make it to the post office, a phone call or Skype session will be more than welcome, too.

Don't have grandparents, or want to do more to celebrate the day? Consider a Foster Grandparent or an Adopt-a-Grandparent program for your family; find one through local social and religious organizations or assisted living facilities.