Texting is the easiest place to start, and it is the tool families use most. A text is just a short written note that arrives on the other person’s phone.

How to send one, step by step:

• Open the Messages app. On iPhone it is a green icon with a white speech bubble; on Android it is usually a blue or multicolored speech bubble.
• Tap the pencil or + button (usually top right) to start a new message.
• In the To: line, type the person’s name if they are in your contacts, or their phone number.
• Tap the message box at the bottom, type your note, then tap the arrow (send) button.

That is it. You will see your message appear in a bubble. When they reply, their message shows up right below it, so a text conversation reads like a little back-and-forth list.

Two things that make texting easier:

• Talk instead of type. Tap the little microphone on the keyboard and just say your message out loud. The phone types it for you. Wonderful if typing is slow or your eyes are tired.
• Make the text bigger. If it is hard to read, you can enlarge the text size in Settings (we cover this in our smartphone course). You do not have to squint.

A quick example. You open Messages, tap your son’s name, say into the microphone “Thinking of you today,” tap send, and it is delivered. He texts back a heart. You just had a moment together.

What to do:

• Open Messages and send one short text to someone today.
• Try the microphone button to speak your message instead of typing.
• Do not worry about spelling. A warm, imperfect text is perfect.