The one parenting hack I have not seen on Instagram

While we are all trying to limit screen time and get our kids outside as much as possible — we may have unlocked one good use.

We’ve reached the stage of life with my oldest where we want him to know what to do if he ever gets lost. Meaning he needs to learn our phone number.

Learning phone numbers feels so retro now. I mean, I just memorized my wife’s number because it was tied to a bunch of our discount-cards. Otherwise? I’d probably still be hunting in my contacts.

So the hack: use their iPad (or tablet) passcode. Most iPads let you set a long passcode — instead of a 4-digit PIN, you enter something like your full cellphone number. Every time your kid unlocks the iPad, they’re typing in your number. Conveniently just like they would on a phone.

Depending on how much screen time they get, they’ll learn your number before you know it. Suddenly, screen time becomes kind of useful. A little independence, a little life skill, hidden in what otherwise feels like TV time.

So yes limit their screen time but when they do use it make it useful.

This kind of practical parenting hack fits perfectly into my daily framework for being a happier dad — small, consistent actions that add up to big differences.

P.S. — I can’t actually take credit for this idea, it was my wife but my son learned my phone number.