When my first daughter was little, I wanted her to know how to reach me in case of an emergency — but memorizing numbers wasn’t exactly a preschooler’s idea of fun. So I came up with a quick little hack that worked so well, I used it years later with my second daughter!
This simple activity helps kids see, say, and touch the numbers — hitting every learning style and making it stick. Best of all, it takes just a couple of minutes to make.
What You’ll Need
- An old phone (disabled, or toy)
- Round pricing stickers
- Painter’s or masking tape
- A marker
How to Make It
- Stick the round labels where the numbers would be and write in the digits.
(Bonus tip: draw the green phone/call icon at the bottom so kids learn to “press call.”) - On the back, add three strips of tape and write down:
- Mom’s number
- Dad’s number
- 911
That’s it! Your child can now practice dialing anywhere — at home, in the car, or while waiting at appointments.
Once they’ve memorized your number, it’s one less thing to worry about. You’ll feel more at ease knowing they have the skills to reach you when it really counts — and they’ll feel so proud showing off their “grown-up” phone skills.
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Need a fun story for 2-7-year-olds?
Ringo Picked is a seriously silly story about a really good raccoon with a very bad habit!
Find the paperback/ebook/audiobook available here.
My Mom is the Worst 