At what age should you teach your child to call for help?

I think that at 5 a child should be able to call for an ambulance or something if it is needed. Thinking about it I don't think my daughter could do this, I must get her to learn how to do it, or to phone her dad and get him to help. I also tell her what to do if strangers talk to her in the street and things like that.

They start teaching them the important things like that in Kindergarten here where I live. My grandsons all came home after justa few weeks ofschool and said "I know how to call the fireman!" By the time they are in grade 3, they even start teaching them first aid. Right now, the one in grade 1 is learning stop drop and roll and why that is so important. The boys in his class especially like it because they get to knock each other onto the floor. Now if they'd only tell them to call 911 when mommy and daddy were screaming at each other things would get a lot calmer in many homes.

well, i never thought about it, but that's a realy good idea! i think 5 years is a good age, if they can remember short numbers like 911! and your idea about a password when someone tries to pick your child up that's great! i must remember it because my daughter is only 2,5 years now! great topic! finaly a topic i can use!

At the age of 5 not only did my daughter know how to dial 911 she knew how to use the fire extinguisher and by knowing this, she saved my mothers live. She got the fire extinguisher for my mother when her pants leg caught on fire. We were very lucky. The head start worked with them on knowing how to call as did we. I think if they are old enough to go to school they are more than old enough to know what to do in ALL emergencies. Your friend should teach him how to call for help, even if it is to call a close by adult that will come to see what is up. I have heard of cats calling 911, really it happened here near us. The man taught his cat to call 911 and the cat actually did when the guy was unconscious. If a cat can do it a 3 yr old should be able to do it not to mention a 5 yr old!

I have a five year old daughter, and last year I started teaching her how to call for help in case anything happens when I'm not home, or no adult is around to do it. I let her memorize the emergency numbers and our address. I also gave her a small notepad and wrote all the important numbers there including my office and mobile numbers so she can use it as reference in case she forgets any. She also knows what to do in case a stranger approaches or touches her. I think it's never too early to teach kids about safety and emergency measures. Sometimes we undermine their capabilities, but the truth is they can be responsible if given the chance.

You know, I hadn't even thought of that. I have a four year old daughter, and since you mention it, perhaps it is time she learned what to do in case of an emergency like that. I don't know why it had never crossed my mind. Thanks for bringing the topic up nicolec.

The age from which, children face the outer world is the age, when their schooling starts from the pre-nursery stage. So also their ability to interact with outside people beyond relatives develope from this age. So in my opinion at this age a child must be trained well by family as well as school to call for help in case of any disaster and also some crisis managing processes. Thanks.

Now the life is totally changed, the children are very smart now a days, they learn very quickly and with respect to mobile and phone they are keen to learn how to operate or dial any number

I think anytime between the ages 0f 3 and 5 are good ages to start teaching about safety and procedures etc. I depends on the child. I teach Sunday School and some of my 3/4 year olds are ready for the information and instruction and some it takes a wee bit longer. Not only is important for them to know how, what and when -- I believe that "knowledge is empowerment" and by that I mean having this knowledge and understanding will help eliminate alot of "fear" factors for kids who have the "What if???" questions in life. Great topic! Thanks, best wishes. Oohcute2340

Every child has got a level of understanding of thier own so by age five most kids know how to use the phone and dial some numbers its just the parents that has to tell them whish number is what.

i think there are no specified age to teach the children call for help. meaning to say they can learn when they see their environment for the example their parents....for me they can learn naturally

I do agree that 5 is old enough if the child is able to understand what an emergency is. When my children were younger I had 911 on speed dial so it was one button to push. I continued off and on to remind them what an an emergency is and when 911 should be called. Kids need to know what to do but start small with different saftey messures is what I think. The password thing is great to my parents did it with me and I do it aswell.

as soon as they become aware of their social involvement in the society,itz better to taught them these lessons.

At this point, if they can speak and say someone is hurt, they're old enough. I think 911 these days will come if they hear a distressed child on the line regardless, so it's not like the child has to be eloquent about the situation. Any ways, if you're wondering to teach them or not, what do you really have to to lose by teaching them any ways?

my baby is also 5 year old and still she only know about landline number and her papa mobil no. thanks for asking good discussion so i can teach my baby some emergency numbers.

I think you are totally correct on your assertions. I think we should teaching the children as soon as we can, all the safety basics from 9-1-1 to stop, drop, and roll.

Hi, I believe that children should be taught around the age of 4 years old I know that my youngest daughter knew how to phone for help in regards to an ambulance, police or fire at this age, as she had to call for the ambulance for me, I thought that she was quite cleaver for her age and when I went to the hospital and our daughter came there I asked her how did she know who to call for help for me, she replied Mum I watch you when you ring up that is how I knew and as we had taught her different phone number for emergency but that number here is only 000 which is easy and she also knew how to call my mother but she lived further away.

as soon as possible, my niece is 4 and is able to call me all on her own. Just make sure they know not to use 911 just because mommy is sleeping.

Three year old kids are already able to take on simple errands. Dialling 911 and describing an emegency in child's language will be doable for them already. It will be just a matter of teaching them how to go about it. I've done this to my kids before although, not in this kind of scenario you are giving because, 911 was not heard of yet in our locality then. It was on how to call on the neighbors for help in cases of emergency.

I feel that as long as the child is able to talk "corrigibly", it is time to teach him. I have known of a child 4 years old being trained to look after her baby sister of 15 months. The child is taught to "babysit" the baby, make sure she does not fall down while sitting or put things into her mouth and to shout "Mummy" when she sees the baby does such things. I also noticed that kids enjoy playing with phones and pretending they are talking to Daddy and Mommy. Perhaps that is the best time to teach them. Remember the emergency number. However, the child needs to be reminded to call the number only when they need help.