The generation that skips
Grandparents carry the stories that skip a generation, the ones parents are often too close to tell. A grandchild who hears their grandparent describe the world they grew up in, or explain the meaning of a family name, inherits something no photograph can hold.
The hard truth is that many grandchildren arrive after the grandparents who would have adored them are gone, or too young to remember them. A recording closes that gap. It lets a grandparent introduce themselves to a child across time.
Recording for a grandchild who is not born yet
You do not need to know the child, or even their name, to leave them something. Speak to the grandchild you hope will come, or to all of them at once. Tell them who you were, where the family comes from, and what you hope they carry.
When the child is born, or reaches an age where it will mean something, the message is there waiting. You can set it for a specific future date or hold it and let a parent release it at the right time.
How it reaches them years later
Set a delivery date, a christening, an 18th birthday, a wedding, and the message is delivered on that morning to the person you name. Until then it stays sealed and private, and only the intended recipient can ever watch it.
Because plans span years, you can also record more than one: a message for when they are small, another for when they are grown. Each waits for its own moment.
What to say to a grandchild
Keep it warm and simple. What you want them to know about you. The story of the family they are joining. One piece of hard-won advice. And, more than anything, how much they were loved before they ever arrived.
If you would like help finding the words, our free question lists for grandparents give you specific prompts that draw the real stories out.
Common questions
Can I record a message for a grandchild who is not born yet?+
Yes. You can record it now and set it to be delivered on a future date, or hold it until a parent releases it when the time is right.
How far ahead can I schedule delivery?+
On paid plans there is no limit. People routinely schedule messages many years into the future.
Who can watch the message?+
Only the person you name as the recipient. It stays private and sealed until delivery.
What if I want to leave several messages for different ages?+
You can. Record one for when they are small and another for when they are grown, each with its own delivery date.
Keep reading
Record your first message today
Free to start. You do not have to know who it is for yet.
See how it works