Phone Etiquette for Kids Returning Phone Calls From Family

Whether grandma is calling to see if she got the sweater she sent your daughter or an uncle is asking about your son's soccer game, children need to know good telephone etiquette when returning phone calls. Teach your child a few key rules and practice with him to help him develop this vital skill early on.

  1. Greetings

    • A phone conversation should begin with a proper greeting. This may be, "Hello," "Good morning," "Good afternoon" or "Happy Holiday.̶1; Tell your child to use the person's preferred title. For example, if an aunt prefers her professional name, tell your child to call her aunt, "Dr. Smith." He should also mention the purpose for the call such as, "I am calling to return the call from Aunt Sheila."

    Introductions

    • Tell your child that after the recipient has picked up the phone and said, ̶0;Hello,̶1; that he should introduce himself. This can be a simple introduction such as, "This is your grandson, Gary.̶1; Although many people may have caller ID, it is still polite to let the recipient know who is calling, especially if the call is coming from a shared phone. Before your child jumps into the heart of the conversation, make sure he asks if now is a good time to speak on the phone.

    Conversation

    • Be sure to mention the importance of speaking in a conversational tone and to speak slowly and in a clear voice loud enough for family members to understand. Although children can be charming on the phone, their youthful voice may make it more difficult for adults -- especially older adults -- to understand. Teach your child that conversations should be a give and take and that there are times he should listen and times he should speak. Tell him not to interrupt and to show interest in what the relative is saying. Tell him to avoid slang words or other phrases that are inappropriate or that could appear rude. Include the words "Thank you," "Excuse me" and "Goodbye" when appropriate. Instruct him to leave a message to ask the relative to return the call if nobody answers or if the intended recipient is not there.

    How You Can Help

    • You don't have to sit idly by and watch your son butcher a phone conversation. Cindy Post Senning, an etiquette author and great-granddaughter of manners guru Emily Post, says that parents should behave as they want their kids to behave. For example, if you don't want your child to sputter off a bunch of "Yeahs," Uh huhs" and "Nahs," then eliminate these phrases from your own phone conversations. Role-play with your child by pretending to make calls to him or by calling him after work. Make some cue cards that have short phrases on them to help him practice.

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