It’s important for children to know their basic information in case of an emergency or if their caregiver is not with them. Some children may have more difficulty memorizing personal information, so it’s important that we know ways in which we can help them. Children should know their name, caregiver(s) name, phone number, and address. Other personal information that is important is the child’s age, birthday, and school/teacher name. What are some strategies that we can use to help our children memorize their personal information? Some are listed below.
- Using different methods to memorize. This can vary depending on the capability of the child. Some different methods include: speaking, writing, or typing. Creating different activities to memorize this information can keep student(s) engaged and increase participation.
- Have different people ask questions. This can ensure practice to an unfamiliar adult/peer, while also generalizing the important personal information.
- Ask questions in different ways. Everyone has different versions of asking a question, so it’s important to ask questions in different formats so the child has not memorized an answer to a specific question.
- Review the personal information consistently. It’s important to consistently review personal information so that it’s not forgotten. As the child gets older, it’s also important to address other important information, such as other additional phone numbers.