Five Ways to Teach Children Their Phone Number

Often times, when we think of what our child needs to learn at different ages and stages, our mind immediately goes to reading, writing, and arithmetic. We think of the academic skills but life skills are important as well.

One life skill we are currently working on with our preschooler is knowing our phone number and how to use the phone. We don’t want to think about it, but should our son ever get lost, the knowledge of that phone number could be crucial.

So with that in mind I came up with a few printables and activities to help him learn our phone number and I’m sharing them with you with the hope that it might help you teach your child your phone number too.

(one)

For the first activity I made a sheet that has a graphic of a phone on it. Write out your family’s phone number at the top of the sheet. You can then have your child practice pushing the buttons on the picture of the phone. Remember to have your child practice pushing the “send” button once he or she has pushed all the number buttons.

You can also use this sheet to play a sort of “Simon” game. You begin by pushing the first number in your phone number. Say the number when you push it. Your child copies you by pushing that number. Then it’s your turn again and this time you push and say the first and second numbers. Your child then copies you by pushing and saying the first two numbers. Keep going like this until you do the entire phone number.

(two)

Want to incorporate some movement? Write out the numbers 0-9 and place them in a grid on the floor just like they would be on the phone. Tape them down to the floor using painter’s tape. Have your child practice hopping from number to number while saying the numbers. You can do a Simon-type game like you did with the printable sheet.

(three)

For the next printable activity you would need a sheet of circle stickers. Print out the numbers of your phone number onto the circles. Write out each of the numbers needed three times. Write out your phone number for your child to reference at the top of the Circle Sticker Sheet. Then have your child place the number stickers in the correct spots on each row.

(four)

For the Rainbow practice sheet you need crayons, markers, or colored pencils. Write your phone number at the top of your sheet for your child to reference. Then have your child copy the phone number using the correct color for each line.

(five)

Practice with phones. Begin with toy phones. Then take it a step further. Once your child has memorized their number have him or her use the phone to call the number. If your child learned your house phone number then have him or her call your house phone from your cell or vice versa. You should be sure to give your child the opportunity to learn to use both a cell phone and a land line phone.

–> Download Your Phone Number Learning Printables here. <–

Additional Activities We Enjoy:

• Phone number song– Jo from Lasting Thumbprints came up with a song to learn your phone number using the tune of “Frere Jacques.” This song works well because your child repeats what you sing, which helps them when they are learning it.
• High Five Activity- Every time your child goes through a certain door you have them do this fun activity using their hands.

Do you remember how you learned your phone number? Have any tips on how to teach a child his or her phone number? I’d love to hear them in the comments below!