Sandwiches and toast

[nappyaddict]

AIBU to let a 3 year old do this?

[DoYonisHangLow]

Make them?

[woollybobs]

On their own yes! with assistance from you no. My 3 year old loves to help make sandwiches and toast

[Joules68]

Why do you want to?

[deemented]

I wouldn't let a three year old do toast - simply because they may burn themselves getting it out, but yes, I'd let them butter bread and add a filling.

[DoYonisHangLow]

My (just) 2 year of can make me a nespresso in the machine all by herself I do always get the same flavour though.

She also likes to do her own toast, I've never let her spread stuff alone on untasted bread though, she's a bit heavy handed and it would end up a buttery bready mess ball.

[DoYonisHangLow]

Sorry, sorry, 2 year old and untoasted bread that is...

[Mintyy]

Why would you want a 3 year old to do this? He/she has got 80+ years ahead of them making sandwiches and toast. For me its not worth the effort involved in enabling it.

[DoYonisHangLow]

Really?! Surely you could say that about anything though... What's the point in teaching them to use the toilet/ read/ get dressed by themselves as they have years ahead of them in which to do it, non?

I very much doubt OP was talking about forcing her 3 yo to do it (coud be wrong....) but my 2 year old LOVES doing things like this, I see it as my job to encourage her independence as much as possible. Making sandwiches and toast is fun for a toddler!

[Mintyy]

No, obviously I wouldn't say it about all life skills.

[DoYonisHangLow]

No, I realise that, but you could surely?

Just wondering what sets sandwich making aside from other little tasks that increase independence and encourage a sense of pride in themselves... Like dressing alone, putting shoes on, brushing teeth, etc.

[BackforGood]

If you mean make them, and make them on their own, then yes, YABU.
If you mean do it together, then no, YAB very sensible.

[Artandco]

Mine love helping so yes

I wouldn't leave actually alone though as they would prob spread a whole block of butter onto one slice of bread..

[Nestabee]

I wouldn't let a 3 year old use the toaster.

[shanghidawn]

I would, it helps to develop their hand eye co-ordination skills ready for learning to write.

[Mintyy]

Yonis, if my toddler really really wanted to make a sandwich or toast then of course I would facilitate that.

But I wouldn't want my toddler to be able to do those things independently on their own in order to make my life easier. Whereas I very definitely would want them to be able to dress and toilet themselves.

Hope that is clear.

[Slackgardener]

I would definitely encourage it. Why not? Toast is lifted out using bamboo tongs, buttering will develop fine motor skills, textures, flavours, smells..it's all good!

[nappyaddict]

DYHL

Do you let your 2 year old get the toast out? I have toast tongs.

And do you let her cut the sandwich in half with a knife?

Also does she bring the nespresso to you or do you lift it off the machine? (thinking of getting a tassimo)

[Sirzy]

DS is 4 and 'helps' make his toast and butties. Wouldn't dream of letting him do it alone though especially not the toast

[Giraffeski]

Over my dead body would I be allowing a 3 year old to get toast out of a toaster, tongs or not.
And carrying hot drinks?

No.

DD1 used to enjoy helping to make a sandwich at this age, using a blunt knife and closely supervised.

And I have to say, I feel I am not an overprotective parent. Dd1 (11) has been making cups of tea and toast etc for a few years, can cook herself pasta and simple meals and walks a mile and a half each way to school on her own. But I don't think there are many 3 year olds who I would trust to do toast and coffee.

[Hulababy]

If the child wanted to do it then I see no problem with them having a go at making at sandwich whilst I stood back and watched/supervised.

Putting toast in and turning it on I would be fine with.Close supervision to remove if using tongs - I didn't have any so would have removed it for her. Buttering herself after I would be fine with.

DD would have been fine putting coffee pods into a machine and turning it on. I wouldn't have allowed her, at that age, to carry hot drinks though.

Even at 3y DD was always helping in the kitchen, including using knives. She had one of the children's safety knives - was from somewhere like Lakeland iirr. We always did far more cooking and food prep to baking as I prefer the former.