What basic skills should we teach our children - and at what ages?

minimoneysaver

There is no reason why a child of 4 can't make their own breakfast. They can put cereal in a bowl, pour some milk and get a spoon. I made things easier for my daughter, by moving her cereals down to a lower cupboard and her smaller bowls. When she was four, I used to pour a small jug of milk and leave it in the fridge. I have fibromyalgia and various back problems and therefore really struggle in the mornings. Anything to make both of our lives easier. She also helps load/unload the dishwasher & washing machine. She is 7 now and very independent and friends comment how they wish their children were as capable. I don't think that she is hard done by, she is learning life skills.

MarilynMonroe_2

Blue_Elephant wrote: »

Now I really feel short!! I'm 4' 9" and I'm 20 years older!!

Good things come in little bundles!

MarilynMonroe_2

I don't doubt a 4 year old can make their own breakfast, but for me I would feel a bit bad leaving her to make her own breakfast at 4.

glitter_fairy

MarilynMonroe wrote: »

I don't doubt a 4 year old can make their own breakfast, but for me I would feel a bit bad leaving her to make her own breakfast at 4.

Its good skills to have. You dont have to do it every day but you never know what is going to happen. When I got swine flu my 4 and 5 year olds fed themselves and got me drinks etc because there was no one else to help. I was so very relived I have taught them to be self reliant. Years later they are still very proud that they looked after me. I recently was bed ridden for a few days, again they cooked, this time cleaned too and again were so proud that they could look after mummy when they needed to.

MarilynMonroe_2

I've never had to look after my mam, even when she was very very illa nd couldnt walk, but was walking on her hands and knees she wouldnt hear of anyone helping.

Oh no!! I may have turned into my mother!!!!!!!!!!!

glitter_fairy

MarilynMonroe wrote: »

I've never had to look after my mam, even when she was very very illa nd couldnt walk, but was walking on her hands and knees she wouldnt hear of anyone helping.

Oh no!! I may have turned into my mother!!!!!!!!!!!

My mum had some very serious health problems and was hospitalised a few times and nearly died a few times, we had been taught well and at 9, 13 and 14 could run the house for her for a few weeks. If she had not let us help she could well have died. Im glad she had taught us so well we could help her.

maman

MarilynMonroe wrote: »

Same for me, I never cooked or cleaned. My mam, like myself really, saw that as her job, as I dont see it to be my daugters job. Her time will come soon enough!

I don't want to get all preachy but I really hope that's not true. I have to accept (although t sits very uncomfortably with me) that there are women around who positively enjoy and want to do all the housework. But I do hope your DD has a choice.

Gra76

Tying shoelaces is a big one for me.

I coach an under 8's football team and NONE of them (other than my son) know how to tie shoelaces. It's a nightmare spending half the night making double knots in shoelaces just to stop them coming undone again when I train them.

When we play on Saturdays I notice most players on other teams also don't know how to do laces.

I remember when I went to school there was a board with laces on it that we were told to practice on until we could do our laces. That's when I was 5. It's odd seeing kids at 7-8 years old who can't do their laces.