A grandparent and grandchild relationship is truly special. It's fun to spoil the little ones and watch them grow up, without the pressure of being the parent. Besides the fun, hugs and snuggles, research has shown that a close grandparent and adult grandchild relationship can help protect mental health for both parties. This is especially important as lifespans increase and grandchildren have the opportunity to have more time with their grandparents.

How can you maintain or form a close and strong relationship with your grandchildren? There are many ways and an article from Sixty and Me gives you plenty of ideas.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do is to be present as much as possible. Sharing in experiences on a regular basis helps form deep, loving bonds. If you are around a lot but have multiple grandkids, it's important to spend one-on-one time together. Alone time can help build a stronger bond.  While you're spending time together, it's a perfect opportunity to find out what you have in common and enjoy those activities together. Don't forget to play games! Show your grandchildren what games you used to play as a child. Get them outside, away from electronic devices, and you'll learn about how each other's minds work.

Another good idea is to use your time with your grandchildren to share stories and family history. Tell them what life was like when you were younger, tell them stories about their parents. Show them old photos, videos, award certificates etc. This helps your grandchildren get to know you and their family heritage better.

Don't be afraid to take advantage of technology. If you don't live near your grandchildren, use Facetime or Skype to connect with them visually. Use social media to stay connected with their daily lives.

With all this talk of spending time with your grandchildren, it's important to remember that they may have another set of grandparents, so you must be willing to share their time. If you try and compete with other grandparents, it can push your grandchildren, or your children, away. It can be easy to feel jealous of other grandparents, whether it's over time spent, expensive gifts given, or just personality differences. If you experience jealous feelings, remind yourself that you should be happy that your grandchildren have more people to love them! Savor your time with them and make the most of it. Better yet, schedule some time or events when both sets of grandparents can get together with the grandchildren!

Finally, keep a healthy lifestyle so you're around as long as possible for them...and have the stamina to keep up with them!

If you're about to become a new grandparent, check out this helpful book by Cheryl Harbour: Good to Be Grand: Making the Most of Your Grandchild's First Year.