Knowing how to use the phone is something all children should learn when they are old enough to do so. This is important for a number of reasons—in the event of an emergency, the child should be able to call for help or dial 911, and he or she should also be able to pick up the phone and answer it when you are unavailable to do so.
Learning how to use the phone can be a difficult concept for some children to grasp. Your child should be able to identify numbers when learning how to use the phone, so he or she can dial it. Most kids can learn how to use the phone between the ages of three and five.
The following are some fun ways to teach your children to use the phone in a variety of different capacities:
Learning how to dial numbers
First of all, it is important that kids know never to dial 911 unless it is an emergency. Many false alarms are called into 911 centers each day, wasting time and resources, so make sure your kids know the phone is not a toy and calling 911 is a serious thing.
You can teach your child how to dial numbers by giving him or her a phone of his “own.” This can be a toy or an old phone or cell phone you no longer use. Let him or her practice identifying and dialing numbers. Once he or she has that down, you can then let your child call your home phone from your cell, or vice versa. He or she can also practice looking at a list of numbers and calling those, such as Dad’s cell or work or Grandma’s.
Learning how to answer the phone
Learning how to answer the phone can be tricky for kids. You can help them learn to do so in a fun way by calling the house phone from your cell phone and letting your child answer it. You can then make a game out of it by letting your child practice saying hello, asking who is calling, and taking a message if necessary.
As your children get older, you can teach them how to handle certain situations as well. For example, you can ask the child if he or she is home alone so your child can practice not telling strangers whether they are home alone. They can also practice taking simple messages, and older children can learn to take down messages as they get older.
Memorizing phone numbers
Learning how to memorize phone numbers can be one of the hardest things for kids to do, but it is important that your child be able to recite his or her phone number in an emergency or for information. You can help your child memorize phone numbers by turning them into a song and singing it.
Practice
As with anything, practice makes perfect. Practicing these fun ways to learn how to use the phone can make it easier for children to know how to answer the phone, take messages, use the phone, and dial numbers.
Learning how to use the phone is a necessary thing that all children should learn. Most kids will see learning how to use the phone as a game anyway, but these are just a few ideas to make it fun.
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