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Literacy Spot #20: Tin Can Telephone

Did you ever make a tin can telephone as a child? Taking turns with a friend to share very important messages. Fascinated with how it could possibly work, that you could those secret messages travelling down a simple length of string.!

So much fun and so easy to make. All you need is two tin cans, a hammer and nail, and a length of string. Oh, and a friend for the other end.

Telephones are a great addition to children’s play, both for their language and social development. Here are a few ideas to get you started;

~ Add a handbag including items such as a set of keys, a purse or wallet, play money and an old mobile phone to your child’s dramatic play.

~ When it is time for a new one, recycle your home telephone by adding it to your child’s play. Telephones are a great addition when playing;

  • Doctor’s surgery
  • Veterinary clinic
  • Florist
  • Pizza shop
  • Repair man
  • Office (like Mummy or Daddy’s work), or
  • Everyday home corner play.

What playful literacy learning has your child been enjoying this week?

Related speaking and listening Literacy Spot posts

  • Five Simple Listening Games
  • Speech Development Through Conversation
  • 5 Games for Playing with Language
What is Childhood 101′s Literacy Spot? It is a weekly reminder of the importance of young children learning playfully as each week I share one idea for playing around with literacy, taken from my many years working as an early childhood teacher. Visit the previous Literacy Spot posts for more fun ideas for playing with literacy.


Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.

Filed Under: Literacy, Literacy Spot Tagged With: early literacy

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Read the comments or scroll down to add your own:

  1. Kristi @ Creative Connections for Kids says

    May 23, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    I love this refresher course on the tin can telephone. Thanks for the ideas for extending it into all kinds of pretend play.
  2. Kristin @ Preschool Universe says

    May 23, 2011 at 8:22 AM

    I'm so glad you reminded me of this classic activity. I love that you're letting her use the hammer, too ;)
    • Christie Burnett says

      May 24, 2011 at 10:23 PM

      Immy loves woodwork and has her own hammer, nails and other paraphernalia!
  3. eileen says

    March 17, 2013 at 8:41 PM

    Hi, As a special ed. teacher, I make almost all my own materials. Just introduced the tin can phone to my students. Hint: Waxing the string with a candle helps a lot with sound conductivity and provides a great activity for the kids! Eileen anise8797@netscape.net

Trackbacks

  1. Sunday link love | Come Parent With Me says:
    May 28, 2011 at 7:50 PM
    [...] love this craft idea for kids and am determined to give it a go before the weekend [...]
  2. 26 Tin Can Crafts & Activities For Kids! - hands on : as we grow says:
    October 30, 2013 at 9:45 AM
    [...] Tin Can Telephone Childhood 101 [...]
  3. Tin Can Crafts - Red Ted Art's Blog : Red Ted Art's Blog says:
    June 13, 2014 at 6:17 PM
    […] 21 Tin can phones […]
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