How old were your kids when they used the kettle by themselves?

[Miaou]

Dd1 asked if she could make dh a cup of tea this evening - but I'm just too nervous to let her use the kettle!!! Am I being silly? She's 9.5 btw.

[HuwEdwards]

I think it depends how sensible you think she is and also how tall she is, by which I mean if you're short it's more difficult to be in control of a kettle on a worktop.

[hana]

i would let my dd at that age use it

[Miaou]

She's not too small I don't think - but she's not very good at handling heavy things. She has only recently mastered the water jug and only then when it's not full.

She asked for a trial run with cold water - very sensible!!

[BonyM]

DD1 will be 9 in April - she has been making dh and I hot drinks for probably a year now. She's never had an accident!

They get taught to make a cup of tea in Brownies, so I reasoned that I was probably being overcautious to prevent her from doing the same at home.

[tortoise]

I know someone who was quite happy to let her (then) 6yr old ds make cups of tea.
I would let my 9 yr old do it with supervision.

[Miaou]

Eeek - 6??

Yes I think the time has come to let her at least have a go ... yet another "growing up" thing

[Posey]

Dd used the kettle first on holiday in Guernsey so she was just turned 8. Regularly does it now and has just started cooking too (today, under supervision, she made a tuna pasta thing for tea). She'll be 10 in June.

[RustyBear]

DD learnt how to do it at Brownies too, at about 9.

[tortoise]

Yes 6! Too young imo but she isn't one to worry to much. Saw him in town with his 3yr old brother on their own friday. About 1/2 mile from home!!

[charliecat]

DD1 is 9.5 and not yet. The cup of tea is not worth the scald marks she might get if it goes wrong.

[colditz]

Tortoise

[colditz]

I would say 9 is fine. Cold water trial run a good idea.

[steinermum]

It's worth teaching her as she might try to do it herself to 'treat' you. My two dss (10 and 6) brought us breakfast at 6am on Christmas morning, to try to get us out of bed. Only later did wew realise they'd fused the kettle trying to make tea, so if she's asking you really should show her!

[Ulysees]

I also know someone who's dd has been doing this since 6, hoovering too. What got me is her 2 sons don't and they're much older.

[colditz]

Also, only you know how clumsy/dextrous she is.

[3andnomore]

My es was 9 1/2 when dh showed him how to make tea and coffee for us...and also made sure ds knew not to fill the kettle up to much, etc...!
Now he is 10 1/2 and we progressed to him being able to make cheese on toast

[Katymac]

DD wants to as well (9.5 must be an age thing)

She already makes her own poached eggs on toast & is starting to cook quite well

[serenity]

Mine don't (DS1 is 9) but only because we have a kettle that goes on the hob, rather than an electric one. DS1 would be more than capable of doing it otherwise.

[Miaou]

Well she's quite nifty in the kitchen - dh taught her how to peel carrots today (she can't manage potatoes though, her hands are too small lol!), she can make bread without any help at all too. Time for the next stage, you are right

[nikkie]

Dd1 (7)knows how to use it but she doesn't because she can't reach the work top without a step and that would make it more dangerous .Also we don't use it that often (am I the only one who keeps her kettle from the back of a cupboard?)
She does her own toast.

[Spagblog]

I remember being younger than 8.
I broke my arm at 8 and tried to pour the kettle out with my broken arm and thought "Ow".

[pinkbubble]

DD is 9 and she makes a lovely cup of tea, it started off by her just putting water in kettle, milk in cups etc, until one day I suggested her pouring the water in the cup, she was a little app but she managed it and now no probs at all- and she has never burnt herself!

[fortyplus]

Depends very much on the child. I let mine - with close supervision - from about age 8. They were expected to iron their own Cub scarf to earn a badge at the same age.
Both boys have always been sensible and well co-ordinated - quite a few of their friends shouldn't be let loose with a kettle full of boiling water even now, age 13!

[filthymindedvixen]

ds 9 makes one regularly for me. But spilt a whole cup while carrying it to me . Though it didn't splash him, we both feel more nervous about him doing it now...he often cooks under supervision though.

[LadyTophamHatt]

Ds1 has just recently started making us tea in the mornings, he'll be 8 in april.