You know how to make a call. Answering the family phone, or a parent’s phone when they ask you to, is the other half. It is a real job: a message is only helpful if it reaches the person it is for.
Key idea
Answer with a greeting. If the call is for someone else, ask, “May I tell them who’s calling?” If they can’t come to the phone, write down the caller’s name, number and message, and the time, and give it to the person.
Why it works
A calm greeting makes the caller feel welcome. Asking who is calling, instead of shouting “WHO IS THIS?”, is polite and lets the person decide whether to come to the phone. Writing the message down matters because memories slip, and a lost message can mean a missed appointment or a friend left waiting.
Worked example: A call for Dad
The family phone rings, and Mia answers. The caller asks for her dad, who is in the yard. What should she say?
- Greet: “Hello, this is the Brooks house, Mia speaking.” Or simply “Hello?”, as her family prefers.
- Ask: “May I tell him who’s calling?”
- Say, “Please hold on, I’ll get him,” set the phone down gently, and go get him instead of shouting across the house.
Answer: “May I tell him who’s calling? Please hold on, I’ll get him.”
Worked example: Taking a message
Ms. Park calls for Sam’s mom, who is out. What should Sam write down?
- Who the message is for: Mom.
- Who called and her number: Ms. Park, and the number she gives, read back to check it.
- The message, the time, and his own name, then put it where Mom will see it.
Answer: For Mom; from Ms. Park; her number; the message; the time; taken by Sam.
Common mistake
Shouting across the house for the person, or forgetting to write the message down. Go get them, and if they can’t come, write it down right away and read the number back to the caller.
If a caller you don’t know asks questions you aren’t sure about, it is fine to say, “Please hold on,” and get a grown-up. You never have to answer questions that make you uncomfortable.