Guest blogger Amy Stout is one creative woman. Today and tomorrow, she shares her creative method for helping kids with special needs memorize their phone numbers. In the first post, she introduces a song to help with the process. So get your vocal chords moving and read on!
How To Teach Kids Their Phone Number
Every parent wants to protect their child and I am no exception.
At this point in Kylie’s life (at this particular developmental level), she has very few self help skills. So, my husband and I have been discussing how to teach her these skills in a way she will understand and can remember.
Tapping into Kylie’s Strength
Kylie has auditory processing issues. Basically this means that when you speak to her, it takes her a long time to grasp what you are saying. When people talk to her, she processes it like Charlie Brown’s teacher: Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah. Therefore, Kylie is a more visual learner.
However, Kylie also has a GREAT memory, so we knew if we could find a way to make the information be appealing and catchy there would be a better chance for her to retain that information.
So…. we wrote a little song to help her learn our phone number, specifically mine as I am the more available-to-come-at-a-moment’s-notice parent. For the sake of privacy, I will type our phone number like this: XXX-XXX6.
Adapting the Song
The last digit in our phone number IS a 6, and that is the number I used for rhyming. If your number is something different, you might want to choose a different phrase that rhymes with that ending number. For example, if the last number of your phone number is a 3, you might want to take out “I dial the phone like this” (which rhymes with 6) and instead sing, “She’ll listen for my ring” (which rhymes more closely with 3).
Rest assured. Either way works fine. It is the repetition and beat of the song that helps them remember.
And Now…the Song!
The song is to the tune of Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush. Click the link for a You Tube video of the song. The words you’ll use are as follows:
Verse 1:
When I get sick, I call my mom
When I get sick, I call my mom
When I get sick, I call my mom
I dial the phone like this…
XXX-XXX6 (sing the numbers to the same tune as above)
XXX-XXX6
XXX-XXX6
It starts with XXX (insert your area code)
Verse 2:
When I need hugged, I call my mom
When I need hugged, I call my mom
When I need hugged, I call my mom
I dial the phone like this…
XXX-XXX6 (sing the numbers to the same tune as above)
XXX-XXX6
XXX-XXX6
It starts with XXX (insert your area code)
Verse 3:
When I get lost, I call my mom
When I get lost, I call my mom
When I get lost, I call my mom
I dial the phone like this…
XXX-XXX6 (sing the numbers to the same tune as above)
XXX-XXX6
XXX-XXX6
It starts with XXX (insert your area code)
Verse 4:
When I’m afraid, I call my mom
When I’m afraid, I call my mom
When I’m afraid, I call my mom
I dial the phone like this…
XXX-XXX6 (sing the numbers to the same tune as above)
XXX-XXX6
XXX-XXX6
It starts with XXX (insert your area code)
Verse 5:
When I need help, I call my mom
When I need help, I call my mom
When I need help, I call my mom
I dial the phone like this…
XXX-XXX6 (sing the numbers to the same tune as above)
XXX-XXX6
XXX-XXX6
It starts with XXX (insert your area code)
Verse 6:
I call my mom, say “I love you”
I call my mom, say “I love you”
I call my mom, say “I love you”
I dial the phone like this…
XXX-XXX6 (sing the numbers to the same tune as above)
XXX-XXX6
XXX-XXX6
It starts with XXX (insert your area code)
Come Back Tomorrow
Got that? Then come back tomorrow for Part 2 of Amy’s guest post about teaching kids their phone numbers. She’ll share some handy tips about how to make the learning process easy and fun. In the meantime, leave a comment about how you taught your child important life skills. To read about more of Amy’s creative ideas, visit her blog at www.histreasuredprincess.blogspot.com.
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Rachel,
Love it!
Jolene
Rachel,
Love it!
Jolene
Thank you so much!!! My boys are a bit older so we changed a couple of verses so they can remember some extra phone numbers
“If she’s not home I call the cell
If she’s not home I call the cell
If she’s not home I call the cell
I dial the phone like this..
XXX-XXX6
XXX-XXX6
XXX-XXX6
It starts with XXX”
“I can call my nana too,
my nana too, my nana too
I can call my nana too,
my nana too, my nana too
I dial the phone like this…”
Thank you so much!!! My boys are a bit older so we changed a couple of verses so they can remember some extra phone numbers
“If she’s not home I call the cell
If she’s not home I call the cell
If she’s not home I call the cell
I dial the phone like this..
XXX-XXX6
XXX-XXX6
XXX-XXX6
It starts with XXX”
“I can call my nana too,
my nana too, my nana too
I can call my nana too,
my nana too, my nana too
I dial the phone like this…”
Let me know how it goes! What is the last # in your phone number?
Let me know how it goes! What is the last # in your phone number?
GREAT idea–LOVE it!! I am going to try this w/my daughter who is also great at memory and LOVES music! =) Thanks for sharing this helpful and creative tip!
GREAT idea–LOVE it!! I am going to try this w/my daughter who is also great at memory and LOVES music! =) Thanks for sharing this helpful and creative tip!