HOW TO PLAY - TEACHING TELEPHONE - GAME RULES
Familiarize your child with the Teaching Telephone by reviewing the parts of the telephone. 
The Teaching Telephone works like a real telephone in that you must first take the receiver
off the hook before you "make a call". 
The receiver must be OFF the hook for the telephone functions to work.
 

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HOW TO PLAY - TEACHING TELEPHONE - GAME RULES

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Using the Teaching Telephone

Familiarize your child with the Teaching Telephone by reviewing the parts of the telephone.  The Teaching Telephone works like a real telephone in that you must first take the receiver off the hook before you "make a call".  The receiver must be OFF the hook for the telephone functions to work.

Be sure to explain to your child that the Teaching Telephone is used only for play and practice.  Make sure your child understands that in a real emergency, he or she must use a real telephone to call for help.

Program and Record Features

You can program in a telephone number (up to 11 digits) that you want your child to learn.  Then you can record a message.  When your child dials the programmed number correctly, he or she will hear your message!  You can change the programmed number and record a new message again and again.  Note:  If you change the programmed telephone number, it will not "Clear" the message you recorded.  So, you can either leave the old message, or record a new one.

You may want to start by having your child practice your home telephone number.  Then help your child learn other numbers, such as Mom or Dad's work.  Grandma, a neighbor, and so on.

Programming a Telephone Number

• Press On button (light indicates power is on).

• Take the receiver off the hook and set it aside (you will hear a dial tone).

• Press and HOLD the Program button down (continue holding this button down until you have programmed in the telephone number).

• Press # key to start programming.

• Punch in telephone number using key pad (while still holding the program button).

• Release Program button.

• Press # key again to confirm setting.

• Hang up receiver.

• To check that the correct number is programmed in, lift receiver and press the # key.  The programmed number will appear on the display.

• To change the programmed number, repeat the steps above from the beginning.

Recording a Message

• Press On button (light indicates power is on).

• Take the receiver off the hook (you will hear a dial tone).

• Press and HOLD Record button AND Program button at the same time (continue holding both buttons while you are recording).

• After you hear the "beep," start recording your message.

• Second beep tones indicate end of recording time.

• Release both buttons (Record and Program buttons).

• Hang up the receiver.

• Check to make sure your message is correct by lifting the receiver and dialing the programmed number.  Your message will play if the programmed number is dialed correctly.

• To record a new message, repeat the steps above from the beginning.

911 and Operator

Press 911 on keypad to hear "emergency" message.  Dial 0 to hear "operator's" message.

Speed Dial Buttons (A and B)

fun speed dial messages help children learn how to use the telephone to call friends and relatives and to get information.  Each speed dial message ends in a question to encourage language skills.  For example, one message says:  "Hello dear.  This is Aunt Gladys.  My little fifi just had puppies! Can you come over and see them?"

* and # Buttons

Press the * button to hear ringing.  Press the # button to hear busy signal and to display programmed number.

TEACHING TELEPHONE ACTIVITIES

Calling Home:

It is very important that young children know their home telephone number, including area code.  Use the Teaching Telephone to help your child learn how to call home!

1. Begin with your 7-digit telephone number.  Break the telephone number into two separate pieces:  the first three numbers, and the last four numbers.  It is easiest for most children to learn the two "pieces" separately and then put them together.  Write your 7-digit telephone number on the note pad so your child can see it.

2. Practice saying your 7-digit number aloud with your child.  Encourage him or her to read the telephone number as they say it.  After you have practiced reading and saying the telephone number many times, try saying it without looking at the written number.

3. Follow the instructions listed under "Programming a Telephone Number" to program your 7-digit telephone number into the Teaching Telephone.  Then record a message that congratulates your child for dialing the correct telephone number.  Ask your child to pick up the receiver, listen for a dial tone, and dial his or her home telephone number into the Teaching Telephone.  If he or she dials correctly, he or she should hear your message!  If he or she makes a mistake while dialing, tell him or her to simply hang up and dial again.

4. Have your child practice dialing the number several times.

5. When your child has mastered the 7-digit telephone number, expalin that if he or she is far away from home, he or she needs to add four more numbers in front of the home telephone number when he or she dials.  Explain that these additional numbers are called the area code.

6. Reprogram the Teaching Telephone with 1+ area code and then your home phone number.  Repeat steps above to teach your child to dial the 11-digit number.

Emergency Telephone Skills

• Children as young as three should learn how to use the telephone to get help in case of an emergency.  It is important to discuss with your child emergency situations such as fires, medical emergencies, and stranger situations that may require him or her to use the telephone to reach emergency services such as the fire department, police department, or paramedics.

• Make sure your child understands that the Teaching Telephone is not a real telephone, and cannot be used in case of an emergency.  Explain which telephones in your home should be used to call for help, so your child understands the difference between real and toy telephones.  On the Teaching Telephone, dialing 911 will play a pre-recorded voice, saying: "911.  What is the emergency?"

• Following these steps will help you prepare your child for using the telephone in an emergency situation:

1. Teach your child the emergency telephone numbers he or she needs to know.  In most cities, 911 is the number you dial for any emergency.  Check to see if 911 is used in your town, and inform your child if it is.  Explain that 911 is a short, easy way to call for help using a real telephone.  If 911 is not available in your area, teach your child the 7-digit numbers used for fire, police and paramedics by programming the numbers into the Teaching Telephone.  Follow the programming directions in the "Programming a Telephone Number" section to do this.  Post these numbers OR 911 near all telephones in your home for easy reference.  Also post your home address and telephone number, as well as other important names and telephone numbers.

2. Discuss situations and reasons for calling 911.  The following list may help fuel your discussion.

It's usually good to call 911 when these things happen:

• You get lost

• Someone gets hurt

• Something unusual is burning or producing smoke

• Someone is breaking into a home

• You get a scary telephone call

• Your smoke detector sounds an alarm

• A stranger makes you feel scared

It's usually not good to call 911 when these things happen:

• You hear a loud party

• The bathtub is overflowing

• You miss the school bus

• You get mad at your friend

• A car alarm goes off

• Your pet runs away

• A stranger walks through your neighborhood

Telephone Manners

Use the Teaching Telephone to teach your child good telephone manners and skills.  Use the following activities and explanations to help them learn, and practice good telephone manners yourself to set a good example.

• Answering the Telephone:  Discuss with your child the way you would like he or she to answer the telephone.  Usually, a clear "Hello" is your best bet.  You may also instruct your child to say: "May I ask who is calling, please" when the caller asks to speak with someone at your home.  This helps identify the caller to your child, and allows your child to tell family members who is calling.  You may wish to tell your child not to disclose his or her name, age, or grade to strange callers, and be sure he or she never tells a telephone caller that he or she is home alone.

• For Older Children - Answering the Telephone While Home Alone:  If your child will be home alone, decide whether or not you would like him or her to answer the telephone.  If he or she will be answering the telephone, provide him or her with a response to use if a caller asks for someone who is not home.  Some possible responses include:  "He or she cannot come to the phone right now.  May I take a message?" Or "He or she is busy right now, may I take a message?"  Practice these responses using the Teaching Telephone, and then ask a friend or family member to call your home pretending they are a stranger so your child can practice answering the telephone.

• Taking a Message:  If you would like your child to take telephone messages, provide him or her with a clear reminder of information he or she needs to ask from the caller.  You may wish to post a sign on the wall to remind your child to write down.
  1.  The caller's name.
  2.  The caller's telephone number
  3.  The caller's message or request

Keep a pad of paper and pens or pencils near every telephone in the house to make message-taking easy.  Your child can practice taking messages using the message pad on the Teaching Telephone.