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Parentpedia
Answering the Phone or Door
What Experts Say
When someone comes to the front door, a child will invariably hightail it there quicker than you or even the dog.
Teach children never to open the door or to let anyone (even a friend) into your home without first asking permission, says international safety expert Debra Holtzman, author of the best-selling "The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety."
Have your child practice asking, "Who is it?" through a closed, locked door or looking through a window.
Answering the Phone
Since children are naturally curious about the phone (especially when you're on it), it's also important to instruct your children how to use the telephone.
What to Teach Preschoolers
- Preschoolers should not answer the phone on their own but will gain important skills by taking a turn talking to Daddy.
- Start teaching your child your home phone number at age 3. Practice dialing 911 on a play phone.
- Explain that the real phone is a great way to get help or speak with a loved one, but it?s not a toy.
What to Teach School-Age Kids
- By school age if you have a caller ID or answering machine, show your child how to prescreen calls and only answer those from parents, says Holtzman. Later, older children will learn to identify calls from grandparents and friends.
- Teach your children never to tell a caller they're home alone or give out important information such their name, address, or school.
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