Learning to make a phone call is an important skill for all to learn. My kids don’t need to make phone calls often but when they want to talk to loved ones over the phone I want them to be polite and respectful. If there is an emergency and mom and dad are not able to call I want my kids to know what to to do.
Teaching a child how to properly make a phone call and give the caller the respect and attention they deserve is a life skill that can be learned with a few practice steps. Start by having a child be comfortable with how to work a phone. Keep emergency contacts or loved ones numbers easy for children to find. Teach kids how to hold a phone to their ear and properly hold a conversation with someone on the line. Finally teach them how to leave a message if there is no answer.
In a time where most conversations are had over text message it is important to practice making phone calls for that time when your child will need to call a potential employer, call to make an appointment or call a local business for information.
Get Comfortable With How a Phone Works
Most kids I know are comfortable using a phone. They can find apps, watch videos and depending on age send a text message. Make sure they are comfortable using the phone app. Teach them where favorite contacts are, how they are labeled in your phone and if they have a photo. Teach them how to find the keypad and dial a phone number if they are calling someone new or using a phone that doesn’t have the number they are calling saved. Side note: make sure your kids have your phone number memorized incase they are not with you and need to get ahold of you.
My kids FaceTime their cousins or friends and are comfortable with video calls, but having them switch over to a phone call is new. When we first attempted letting them make a phone call to dad they didn’t quite understand the idea of placing a phone to your ear to ear and talk. My son held it out in front of him like he would when FaceTiming so neither him or my husband who he was calling could hear well. Show them where the speaker and receiver are and and how to hold the phone to their ear when in phone mode.
If you have a landline and a phone on the wall or counter teach them how to use this phone as well. They probably wont need as much help transitioning from video mode to phone mode with a landline phone.
Keep Emergency Numbers and Loved Ones Contacts Easy to Find
Now that your child knows how to use a phone they will want to make some calls. When I showed my 5 year old son the phone app it automatically opened to favorites because that is what I use the most. I showed him my favorite contacts. On my favorites are my husband, our oldest daughter, my sister and my parents. My son is a beginning reader and I save contacts using first and last names, not names he is used to like dad, auntie, uma and pop, so he wasn’t sure who the contacts were at first glance. I have photos associated with each name so he was able to take a close look at the photos to tell who they are. If you have photos make sure they are easy for little ones to see. We had a little trouble when dads photo was pulled back at a distance and hard to see in a tiny photo.
Also show them how to search the contacts list to find someone who is not on the favorites list. They can scroll until they find a picture that matches the number they want or if they can spell have them type in a few letters of the name of who they want to call.
Save contacts your child may need to reach frequently on your favorites
Nicole Berry
Save contacts your child may need to reach frequently on your favorites or write names and numbers down on an index card and keep it on the fridge for easy access. Go over emergency numbers like “911” and when this number is to be used, only in emergency. Stress that it’s not a number that should be play dialed because it could take resources away from someone who really needs help.
Have a Conversation With Someone on the Phone
Once your child has dialed and started a phone call help them get comfortable having a conversation. We practice having the kids call mom and dad first. Then expand to other loved ones who have a few extra minutes to chat with your little one. A few phone ettiquet tips:
- Make sure they keep their volume up, and respond with words. My daughter tends to nod or shake her head and we have to go over that people cant see her responses when on the phone and she needs to respond verbally.
- Teach them how to be polite and energetic and to remain focused on the call. If they need to go to another room or turn off the tv to keep from being distracted that is a good step.
- When they are finished with the conversation have them say goodbye and wait for a reply before hanging up. They may be tempted to say goodbye quickly and hang up on the other caller.
Leave a Message if There is No Answer
Sometimes calls go un answered. Teach your child to leave a voice mail so their call can be returned. I usually have the mind set that is no message is left no return call is needed. So if your child wishes to be called back give them a formula for leaving a message. We recommend leaving their name, a brief reason they called and if they wish to be called back and of course where they can be reached. This may sound something like “Hi pop, this is Eleanor calling to tell you happy Monday. If you want to call me back I will be with mom for the rest of the day.”
Have them speak slowly and clearly on the voicemail recording and not to rush it. Sometimes recordings are a challenge to listen to if the talker is not speaking clearly.
Hopefully these steps can help you and your child get one step closer to independence.