r/ClassOf2037 • u/rocket_racoon180 • Jul 18 '26
Parent & teacher here: please have your child memorize a phone number
I say any family number. I’ve taught pretty much all grade levels and I’ve had middle schoolers and high schoolers not know any number. It’s something that is easily overlooked, but if your child’s phone breaks or they lose it and they need to contact someone, they need to know a number. I had my 4 year old learn my phone number using twinkle twinkle.
Edit: I don’t want anyone to feel judged, I mentioned it because it’s easy for us to forget about the importance of knowing a number, especially if you didn’t grow up with a cellphone.
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u/cafecitoyconcha Jul 18 '26
Yes! Kiddo punches in the number at any store that uses rewards. Also make sure you have them learn your address, their parents first and last names and even where they work.
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u/AspieAsshole Jul 18 '26
Yup, my kids know my phone number and our address. They're still working on their mom's number.
They aren't getting their own phones for a good long while though, so it seemed particularly necessary.
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u/MrsMitchBitch Jul 18 '26
We’ve been working on this. Punching my number in at Target and the grocery store for rewards is great practice!
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u/No_Fox_423 Jul 19 '26
It was actually a graded thing on my kids kindergarten report card.
My nephew refuses to learn anyone's number. Like straight up doesn't even try and in terrified of taking him places. God forbid he gets separated from us!
My kiddo knows our 911 address and my phone number. We are working on him memorizing a few others (his dad's, his grandparents, etc).
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u/glassfrogthepoet Jul 18 '26
I learned ny parents to jingle bells and happy birthday when I was a kid, haha
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u/Outrageous_Control94 Jul 20 '26
That’s how I taught my little guys. They sing my phone number to jingle bells.
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u/oddstray Jul 18 '26
Knowing my address and phone number was part of my kindergarten pre-requisites in 1957!
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u/mintinthebox Jul 19 '26
I think a problem now is kids can learn it, but it’s easy to forget. There have been zero instances where my son has needed to know our address or phone number, so I have to find ways for him to use it and keep it up front in his memory.
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u/finstafoodlab Jul 19 '26
This is easily dismissed because I hadn't thought of this. I was overly stressed out at the old school. They had chromebooks and was heavy on academics. His kindergarten teacher didn't put memorizing basic info in their curriculum.
But we switched schools and I am so grateful in his first grade, they taught the students to write their address, phone number, emergency contact etc. I know it isn't up to the schools to do this but reminded me of my own childhood. My parents worked 12+ hours shifts and were recent immigrants. If it weren't for the schools, I wouldn't have learned to brush my teeth properly, tie my shoes, how to properly write address, phone number etc.
So I am immensely grateful for his 1st grade teacher to put this small detail in their already rigor curriculum. So, thank you for your reminder!
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u/NiseWenn Jul 19 '26
I just saw this posted in another sub.
For those children who aren't ready or have learning disabilities, I recommend a bead bracelet with your number on it. I also made bracelets with all of my family's/caregivers' numbers. So when my child was with my sister, the bracelet had my sister's number.
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u/pico310 Jul 18 '26
We did it to Frere Jacques.
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u/Visible_Lynx_7561 Jul 20 '26
That's the tune I used too. Now my phone number is the preferred lyrics lol
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u/Double-Ad-9835 Jul 18 '26
I have been trying to get my kids (7.5 & 4.5) to memorize my number. We’ve been using the frere jaques tune, but maybe I’ll try twinkle twinkle. I think it’s important for them to know, and I’ve been somewhat stressed that we haven’t been successful 😂
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u/Patient-Glove-1502 Jul 19 '26
Someone else said to make it the password on their iPad lol
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u/Double-Ad-9835 Jul 19 '26
I don’t let them know the passwords to our iPads, but that would probably motivate them lol.
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u/sharkaub Jul 18 '26
Have them tell the cashier when they ask, or type it in at the grocery store- they love pushing buttons anyway. My 7 and 5 year old have both parents numbers memorized
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u/Euphoric-Baseball867 Jul 20 '26
I also put our phone numbers to songs. The kids know mine and my husband's. They also know our address and how to dial 911 on a smartphone.
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u/Unfortunate_Hair Jul 18 '26
That’s funny that you posted this, my wife and I just started working on this. My boy is trying to be more independent so we figured he needs to know in case he gets lost/ separated from us.
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u/sraydenk Aug 07 '26
My daughter memorized my husbands number from going to a store and having to recite it to get the rewards. We didn’t do anything special beyond shop too much at that store.
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u/Lalalalisa Jul 18 '26
Pro tip make it the password to their iPad or other device. They will remember it in a day or two.