Here is a simple preschool phone number activity!
I know the importance of my preschoolers knowing my phone number, and yet I continued to put it off. Perhaps I was intimidated by the fact they would have to memorize a sequence of numbers, or if I felt like they weren’t ready? After dragging my feet, I finally felt ready to set up this preschool phone number activity.
And do you know what?
It literally took this introduction, plus a follow-up simple tactic to make it stick in a matter of days.
RELATED: Breakfast Invitations set us up for success for the day!
Now let’s be real.
If this were my Amazon Prime account number that needed to be memorized, he would have it down in four minutes. No, wait. Make that under three minutes.
I need to remember that my preschooler is capable of memorizing my phone number. I took a second to think about what helps my children learn. And then it came to me!
If they build it, it will stick. If they touch it, they will remember it. Bring on the Unifix Cubes. It is time to learn our phone number!
Let’s make this phone number activity!
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Supplies
- White paper roll – this is my favorite
- Markers
- Unifix Cubes
Unifix cubes are one of the handfuls of favorite STEM/math toys we use often.
First, lay down your white paper roll and write your phone number. Remember to use dashes and include your area code.
Next, invite your children to begin to build their phone numbers.
Phone number activity conversation starters
This is mom’s phone number. See it here? It is read like this: 123 (pause) 456 (pause) 7899. Show me this phone number with your blocks.
A hidden math skill here is the practice of quantity.
Quantity is understanding the number name and relating that name to an actual number of objects.
By Kindergarten, your child will be asked to understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted. The number of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order they counted.
Sounds simple, yet It really isn’t.
As adults, we understand this, and it seems like something obvious. the number symbol 8 means eight objects. But to a child, number sense takes time to develop.
There is a difference between counting and quantity, and that needs to be practiced again and again.
Try this!
- Touch objects as you count each one
- Count out snacks as they enter the bowl
- Count fingers and toes remembering to touch each one as you count
Of course, memorizing a telephone number has little to do with quantity. But if you can practice a way for your child to build each number, there is a better chance of getting it to stick.
After we finished this Breakfast Invitation, we put each number on a sticky note. I then hung it on the fridge and in my five-year-old’s room to continue saying aloud.
When will you teach your preschooler your phone number?
