Teaching Young Children Their Phone Number and Address Through Fun and Play

Charlene Bekker
Jun 5
14 min read

Teaching toddlers and young children essential information like phone numbers and home addresses can be life-saving. If a child ever gets lost or faces an emergency, knowing how to share their phone number or address helps them get help quickly.

As parents, we want to prepare our kids for these situations without scaring them. The good news is that with positive, age-appropriate methods, even very young children can learn their important contact information.

This article will explore fun games, songs, and role-playing strategies to help toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged kids memorize their phone number and address and understand when and how to use that information.

Why Kids Need to Know Emergency Info Early

Children are naturally curious and eager to learn. Teaching them their “personal safety info” (like full name, parents’ names, phone number, and address) gives them a sense of confidence and security.

If a little one is ever separated from you in public, they should be able to tell a safe adult how to contact you. And in more serious emergencies (like a fire or a medical issue at home), even a young child may at some point need to call 1-0-1-1-1 or give their address to a first responder.

As one safety expert notes, learning this information is “imperative to a young child’s safety” because it enables them to quickly get help if they get lost or need to reach you urgently. Essentially, knowing their phone number and address is like giving your child a tiny tool for their safety toolkit , one that empowers them to seek help when it matters most.

Keep It Positive and Age-Appropriate

Discussing emergencies with children is tricky: we want them prepared, not scared. “Parents do not want to frighten [kids] or create new anxieties,” observes Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist and school psychologist. The key is to keep the tone calm, encouraging, and even fun.

Start by explaining in simple terms what an emergency is (and what it isn’t). For example, you might say an emergency is “something unusual that could hurt people or cause damage”, like a big fire or someone getting very sick. Emphasize that these situations are very rare, but that knowing what to do will help everyone stay safe.

Just as importantly, explain that if non-emergencies happen (like losing a toy or scraping a knee), those are problems that can wait for a grown-up 1-0-1-1-1 is only for true emergencies. This helps kids understand when to use their knowledge.

Keep your language upbeat and reassuring. Let your child know that police officers, firefighters, doctors and other “helpers” in the community are there to help during emergencies.

You can say, for instance, “If something tricky happens, like a big fire, the helpers like firefighters and police will come to help and they need to know our phone number and where we live to help us!” This framing focuses on solutions and support rather than fear.

Most importantly, make the learning process empowering. Research suggests that safety lessons shouldn’t rely on scaring kids; instead, “proactive safety planning should be an empowering experience” for the whole family.

Children actually learn best through positive experiences and play. “Personal safety is not a game, but practice and a little fun can reinforce it,” one psychologist writes. In other words, we can prepare our kids by practicing their safety skills in a playful, supportive way. The following sections cover exactly how to do that for different age groups.

Young children learn best through playful, positive experiences. Teaching safety information can be turned into fun games and routines.

Toddlers (1–3 Years): Gentle Introduction to Personal Info

Toddlers are little sponges for learning, but their attention spans and understanding of emergencies are limited. At this age, focus on introducing basic personal information in a warm, simple way:

Start with Names: Make sure your toddler knows their first and last name, and your name (Mom’s or Dad’s first name, not just “Mommy/Daddy”). This forms the basis for sharing information with helpers. You can teach this through call-and-response games: “What’s your name?” or “Who am I?” and cheer when they answer.
Sing the Phone Number: Even if a toddler can’t reliably count yet, they can often sing a simple song. Try turning your phone number into a little jingle or rhyme. For example, one expert suggests using a familiar tune like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” with the digits of your number.
Your two- or three-year-old might not grasp what the number means yet, but by hearing it often in a fun context, they’ll start to remember the sequence. Keep the song short and upbeat , you might sing “Call my Mommy at 012-345-6789!” to a melody. Repetition is key, so sing it regularly (in the car, during playtime, etc.) and invite your toddler to sing along or fill in the last few digits.
Play “Phone” Games: Toddlers love to imitate adults. Give them a toy phone (or even an unplugged old cellphone) and do pretend phone calls. You can say: “Let’s call Grandma! Her number is 012-345-6789. Press the buttons with me: 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9.” Guide their finger to “dial” the numbers as you say them. This tactile practice helps reinforce the number sequence in a playful way. Some parents make a game of “calling” different family members or even imaginary characters , it’s all good practice as long as you’re repeating real phone numbers.
Introduce “Where We Live”: Teach your toddler the name of your street or a key part of your address in very simple terms. You might start with just the street name or your apartment building name. For example: “We live on Oak Street. Can you say Oak Street?” You can build on this over time (house number, city, etc.) as they get more verbal. Use everyday moments: point out your house number on your front door or mailbox, and say it proudly together.
Keep It Light and Positive: At this age, focus on memorization through exposure rather than on the emergency aspect. You do not need to delve into serious “what-if” scenarios with a two-year-old , that could be confusing or scary. Instead, frame knowledge as a “big kid” skill: “You’re getting so big, you even know our address!” Praise any effort and progress, no matter how small. The goal in the toddler years is simply to get them familiar with hearing and saying their phone number and parts of their address, setting the stage for deeper understanding later.

Remember that toddlers will need lots of repetition and patience. Attention spans are short, so little bursts of practice work better than long sessions. Celebrate successes (like remembering a new part of the address) with hugs or high-fives. By starting early in a no-pressure way, you’re building a foundation that will make the preschool stage much easier.

Preschoolers (3–5 Years): Learning Through Songs and Play

Preschool-age children can memorize surprisingly well, especially when you use playful techniques. Around ages 4 to 5, most kids are developmentally ready to memorize a full phone number and address. Here’s how to help them master it, step by step, without it feeling like a chore:

Make a Game of Repetition: Repetition is crucial for memorization, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Turn practice into a game! For example, play “Simon Says” with contact info: “Simon says, ‘tell me your phone number’!” or “Simon says, ‘what’s your address?’”. Kids love pretending to be the “teacher” too, let them play Simon and have them prompt you with the questions. Another idea is to create a matching game with flashcards: write your phone number on one set of cards (one digit per card) and mix them up, then have your child arrange them in the correct order like a puzzle. You can do the same with parts of your address (street name, number, city). Celebrate when they get it right, and treat mistakes lightly (“Oops, try again”). The goal is to make practice feel like playtime.

Break It Into Bite-Sized Pieces: Young kids can get overwhelmed with too much info at once. Help them learn the address gradually. Start with the easiest part , often the street name is a good choice (since it might be a word they recognize or can pronounce). Once they’ve got that down, add the house number, then town, and so on. For example: “We live on Oak Street.” Later: “Our house is 12 Oak Street.” Eventually: “12 Oak Street, Springfield.” Breaking the address into chunks over several days or weeks lets them build confidence at each step. The phone number can be learned in pieces too, maybe the first three digits, then the next three, then the last four. Use your child’s memory strengths: some kids learn digits best by hearing (so chant them), others by seeing (so write them in big colorful numbers), others by touch (so have them trace the numbers). Mixing methods (say it, write it, sing it) helps the info stick better.
Use Songs and Rhymes: Music is a powerful mnemonic device for kids. If you haven’t already, definitely turn the full phone number into a catchy song or rhyme. This age group will happily sing their number to any tune , it could be Twinkle Twinkle, Happy Birthday, or a made-up jingle. You might also create a rhyme or phrase for your address. For example, if you live at 44 Oak Street, you could chant “44 Oak , that’s where we’re folk!” (silly rhymes actually work because they’re fun!). Encourage your child to perform their “address song” for family members or stuffed animals , each mini performance reinforces their memory through repetition and boosts their confidence.
Visualize and Associate: Help your preschooler make mental connections to remember information. For instance, link your house number or street name to something familiar. “Our house number is 12 – just like there are 12 eggs in a carton!” or “We live on Oak Street – like the big oak tree in our yard.” These associations act as memory triggers.
You can even draw a simple picture together: maybe draw your house with the number 12 on it and an oak tree next to it. Hang up the drawing on the fridge so they see it often. Some parents also create a “contact info poster” with their child, write the phone number and address in large, bright letters on a paper and decorate it with stickers or doodles. Let your child help make this poster; the more involved they are, the more they remember. Put it in their room or a common area at their eye level. This isn’t cheating,it’s a visual reminder that, over time, helps imprint the information in their memory.
Practice in Real-Life Scenarios: Preschoolers are capable of understanding when to use this information, but it requires gentle guidance. Through role-play, you can teach them what to do in simple hypothetical situations. For example, act out a scene where you are a store employee and your child has “lost” you in the store. Have them practice telling the employee: “I can’t find my mom. Her phone number is 012-345-6789.” or “My name is Jenny Smith and I live on Oak Street.” Role-playing like this makes kids more comfortable to actually recall and use the info if they ever need to. Keep the tone light , you can even make it goofy by pretending to be different characters (a friendly police officer, a librarian, etc.) who ask for their info. By practicing with various people (Mom, Dad, grandparents, babysitter), the child learns to give their info to safe adults, not just to one familiar prompt. Another crucial scenario to practice around age 5 is calling 1-0-1-1-1 for an emergency. Many experts suggest doing a “practice 1-0-1-1-1 call” by role-playing: You be the 1-0-1-1-1 operator and have your child speak into a toy phone to answer important questions like “What’s your emergency?” and “What’s your address?”. Teach them to speak clearly and stay calm as they describe the pretend emergency. This kind of play drill can really boost a child’s ability to recall their address under pressure. Just remind them that in a real emergency call, they should only hang up when the operator tells them to, and that it’s not okay to call 1-0-1-1-1 as a joke or just to practice on a real phone.

By the time children are about to enter kindergarten, ideally they should know their full name, parents’ names, one or two phone numbers, and their address. If your preschooler isn’t quite there yet, don’t panic , keep practicing in fun ways. Every child learns at their own pace. The aim is to have them comfortable reciting this info by the start of elementary school, and to understand that it’s used to help keep them safe.

Primary School-Age Kids (6+ Years): Reinforcing Through Routine and Role-Play

Once your child is in primary school, continue reinforcing their knowledge of your phone number, address, and emergency procedures. Older children have better memory capacity and more maturity, so you can involve them in deeper practice and planning:

Ensure Mastery of Basics: By six years old, most kids can reliably recite a 7- or 10-digit phone number and their full home address from memory. If your child hasn’t fully memorized it yet, keep up the practice until it’s second nature.

Encourage them to write it down from memory as well, for instance, have them write their address when drawing a picture of your house, or write your phone number on a pretend “ID card” they make for themselves. Writing and saying the info regularly (even outside of an emergency context) will solidify it.

Some families post a list of important numbers (mom, dad, grandparents, etc.) on the fridge; you can quiz your child occasionally like a game: “Quick, what’s Grandma’s number? Check if you got it right!” If your child has started using a cell phone or smartwatch, don’t rely on speed-dial alone, make sure they still memorize at least one parent’s number in case the device is lost or locked. Likewise, even though many devices have GPS, they should still know their physical home address in case they need to tell it to someone.

Expand to Additional Contacts: Primary-Age kids can learn a few extra emergency contacts beyond just “Mom or Dad.” It’s good to have a backup number memorized, for example, an out-of-state relative or a nearby family friend, in case parents can’t be reached.

You can explain: “If something happens and you can’t reach me, you can call Uncle Joe here’s his number.” Practice that number too from time to time. Knowing a second number gives both you and your child added peace of mind.

Role-Play More Complex Scenarios: Older kids are capable of handling more detailed emergency practice. Continue to role-play situations like calling 1-0-1-1-1, but now add variations: What if there’s a fire? What if Dad is hurt and unresponsive? What if you get lost on a hike? By acting out specific scenarios, you not only test their knowledge but also teach them how to think in an emergency. Dr. Hafeez, the child psychologist, explains that “one of the best ways to determine how much your child knows and what she still needs to learn... is to role play specific scenarios that [she] could potentially encounter”. There’s a reason schools hold regular fire drills ,practicing in a low-stress setting builds the muscle memory and confidence to act under high stress. At home, you can do your own family fire drill: practice unlocking doors or windows and going to your safe meeting spot, and have your child pretend to call 1-0-1-1-1 once you’re outside. You can also role-play how to answer the door or phone in an emergency when they’re home with no adult (e.g., they should never tell a caller “I’m alone,” instead have a script like “Mom can’t come to the phone right now”). Make these practices fun by timing them or turning them into a “mission” game, but do reinforce the seriousness at the end of each drill by reviewing the key lessons learned.

Teach How to Interact with 1-0-1-1-1 Operators: By primary school age, children can learn what happens when they dial an emergency number. Go over the typical questions a 1-0-1-1-1 dispatcher will ask, and make sure your child can answer them.

Common ones include: “What is your emergency? What is your address? Who needs help? Is anyone hurt? Are you alone?”. Practice answering these clearly during your role-plays. Emphasize that it’s okay to talk to emergency operators, they are safe adults on the phone, even though they’re strangers. If your child has had “stranger danger” lessons, clarify that a 1-0-1-1-1 operator is an exception where sharing information is good and necessary. Also let them know they shouldn’t hang up until the operator says it’s okay, and that even if they’re scared or the house is noisy, they need to try their best to listen and respond. The more you practice, the more it becomes second nature.

Use Real-Life Opportunities: Integrate their knowledge into everyday life so it stays fresh. For example, when writing a return address together on a holiday card, let your child fill in your home address from memory. If you’re at a store that asks for a phone number (for a rewards program, etc.), have your child proudly recite the number for you. These little moments are like pop quizzes that keep their skills sharp in a practical way. Some parents even make a point of asking, “If you ever need help at school and I’m not there, what number will you tell the teacher to call?” during casual conversation, just to reinforce that they remember it.

Encourage Questions and Involvement: At this age, invite your child into the safety planning process. Ask them “What do you think we should do if...?” and listen to their ideas. This not only checks their understanding, but also shows you respect their input. Child development experts note that including kids in making the family emergency plan (like deciding on a meeting spot or choosing a secret family code word) gives them a sense of responsibility and control, which reduces anxiety. When kids feel included, they’re more likely to remember the plan. Be sure to update the conversation as they grow, for instance, if you move to a new address or change phone numbers, take time to practice the new info until it’s solid.

Finally, continue to reassure your child that while these scenarios are unlikely, they can handle it if they ever have to use this knowledge. Remind them that being prepared is what’s important, and that you and other helpers are always there for them. This supportive tone will keep them from feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of knowing what to do.

Making Learning Fun and Lasting

No matter your child’s age, the overarching strategy is the same: teach through positivity, practice, and play. Child psychologists emphasize that kids learn safety skills best by doing ,by actively practicing in a safe environment , rather than just being told what to do. As Dr. Michele Borba, a parenting expert, says, “The best way to teach any skill is by showing it … then practice the skill until your child can comfortably and confidently use that skill alone.” In the context of emergency info, this means regularly quizzing your child in fun ways, role-playing calls and scenarios, and giving lots of positive reinforcement.

Remember to praise and encourage your child as they learn their phone number and address. Little kids beam with pride when they can demonstrate their knowledge ,you might be surprised how excited they get about knowing this “grown-up” information! Celebrate it: “Wow, you remembered all 10 numbers of our phone number , that’s amazing!” or “You told the firefighter puppet our whole address, great job!” This builds their confidence.

Also, periodically refresh the practice. Kids can forget details over time if they don’t use them. So even once your child has memorized their info, keep it active with occasional review. A good tip is to incorporate it into your routine: maybe every couple of weeks at Saturday breakfast, you ask, “Quick, what’s our address?” and make it a silly race to answer. Or use car rides for pop quizzes: “If we had an emergency, who would you call and what would you tell them?” The more they say it, the more reflexive it becomes.

In teaching your child their emergency contact information, you’re doing more than just drilling facts ,you’re empowering them with a crucial life skill. With gentle guidance, fun practice, and lots of love, even very young children can learn how to stay safe and get help when it counts. As a parent, watching your little one confidently recite their phone number or explain their address is incredibly reassuring. It’s one of those big little milestones in growing up safe and secure. So keep it positive, make it playful, and know that you are equipping your child to navigate the world with a bit more confidence and preparedness.