How to Make a String Telephone

Ah, the innocence of childhood. The phrases ‘you’re only a kid once’ and ‘they grow up so fast’ have become such tired old parenting cliches; but they’re true!! That’s what makes it so gut-wrenching to see a youngster sitting on the couch all day playing video games, watching TV or – heaven forbid they already have a mobile phone – texting!

Fortunately, some classic childhood games/activities have withstood the test of time. Bubbles, for example, will never cease to amuse kids – no matter what shiny new technology trys to lure them back to the sofa. There’s just something about making giant bubbles that kids LOVE (learn  how to turn common household items into awesome bubble-making apparatuses).

Image by psd via flickr

Also brilliant is the classic string telephone. Not only does the string telephone provide hours of entertainment, but it’s also a great learning opportunity. You can teach your kids how to make a string telephone and then explain to them the science behind how it works.

Here’s what you need to know:

Items needed:

• two paper cups (not the wax-coated paper cups, if you can avoid them)
• a pen or pencil
• string
• decorative crafty items- glitter, markers, stickers, stamps, etc. (optional)

Instructions:

1. Punch a hole in the bottom of each paper cups using the tip of a pen or pencil.
2. Cut the piece of string to the length you’re wanting the ‘phone’ to stretch to. Perhaps cut a very long piece first (about 20 metres) so that you can experiment with different lengths by cutting the string down later.
3. Weave one end of the string through the hole in one of the cups and tie a knot so that it rests on the bottom inside of the cup. Do the same to the other end of the string and the other cup.
4. For a bit of fun, decorate the cups however you’d like. Add stickers, stamps, glitter and anything else you think would look nice.

**You can also swap out the paper cups for tin cans, using scissors instead of a pencil to poke the holes in the cans. However, this method is slightly more dangerous, and it’s best for an adult to handle the scissors.

Graduating from the String Telephone:

Of course, sometimes a string telephone just won’t do the trick : )

Image by Redlands597198 via wikimedia commons

When it comes to running a company, a proper phone system is essential. For example, BT Business offers a business telephone solution for those looking to change their current provider or upgrade their current phone system.

And once your kids get older, they can upgrade from their string phone to something a bit more high tech, but still quite fun. For example, check out this post about awesome landline phones, featuring everything from the burger phone to the 80s era see-through phone.

Once they’ve moved on from the landline, they can add some style to their mobile with a cool mobile phone cover like the ones featured in this blog post.

So, while technology may seem like it’s threatening the sweet innocence of childhood, the string telephone never ceases to impress even the most apathetic kid. Plus, it’s never too early to teach your kids about proper telephone etiquette!

Do you think the string telephone has withstood the test of time? At what age should kids get their own mobile phones? Do you have any fun memories making a string telephone? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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