At what age should a child start ironing?

[Boogers]

H and I had a big argument last night about the things that DS(12) can and can't do. I said DS should be learning how to iron by now, to which H strongly disagreed.

I remember ironing my dad's hankerchiefs when I was about 7 or 8, and when I was about 12 or 13 I was ironing my school uniform on a Sunday evening (in autumn it was 5 shirts, 3 box pleated skirts, 1 blazer, in summer it was 5 dresses and 1 blazer).

DS had no issues with co-ordination or ability to sense hot and cold, there is no reason why he can't learn to use an iron. H says that he and his brother never ironed when they were younger (his brother is 40 and has never ironed in his life; his parents, my in-laws, do it all for him).

Who is being unreasonable here, me or H? Should I encourage DS to learn how to iron?

Yes, I used the word 'skill' in the sense that it's something people can do rather than something of the rocket science level.

Of course it's not rocket science, but it's not something children are born knowing how to do and if children are going to use a very hot, potentially dangerous piece of equipment it's better that they're taught how to use it safely.

I don't iron. I hate it! My DH does his own work shirts.

Maybe teach him to cook and bake - my DH did tons of cooking with his mum. He is the best chef at home now, and he can bake nearly anything. He is a much better cook then me, someone who never cooked/baked as a child. Best life skill!

and efficiently pigs DSs can do 5 shirts to a decent standard in 5-10 minutes.

Of course it's not rocket science, but it's not something children are born knowing how to do and if children are going to use a very hot, potentially dangerous piece of equipment it's better that they're taught how to use it safely.

Children don't need to use an iron. An adult can use an iron without burning themselves regardless of whether they have been "taught" as a child.

I hate ironing and so does my husband. So he buys non-iron shirts for the most part. We iron the occasional shirt or dress. We have paid for an ironing service in the past. I have never ironed an item of school uniform - M&S non-iron shirts, M&S trousers, sweatshirts and polo shirts all go in the tumble dryer and come out crease free. If you hang them straight from the washing machine they dry fine as well.

Of course ironing is a skill. There are some aspects that are easier if taught than learning by trial and error.

And I do despair of people who still come here to say they don't iron. Not relevant to the OP as in their family they do. Why do people feel the need to tell others that they shouldn't iron if they don't like being told that they should iron?
Imagine starting a thread about how to keep clothes wrinkle free and people constantly telling you you should iron them, even though you had said you don't or you don't want to.

And then coming here saying the DS should learn other things instead. That was not the question. Children don't have to learn just one skill during their childhood. Hopefully they'll learn many different things. Keeping clothes wrinkle free facilitates ironing, if anyone wants to iron. No person in their right mind will dry clothes all wrinkled up and then spend 30 min ironing them out.

All skills are valid and all aspects of housework are worth learning, even if rarely used.
FGS.

The question was about age not housework.

Oh okay, I thought the OP was asking about teaching her 12 year old child to use an iron. Hence my use of the word children.

Someone who has not been taught probably won't burn themselves, but they won't do a very good job.

My last post was in answer to Marynary's post.

Children don't need to use an iron. An adult can use an iron without burning themselves

No wonder adults are ever more infatilised, if they are only expected to learn things as adults. The best time to learn things is when growing up.
Not suddenly be expected to do things you were perfectly capable of doing a few years back when you magically reach 18.

Oh okay, I thought the OP was asking about teaching her 12 year old child to use an iron. Hence my use of the word children.

My reply was in response to you saying that ironing is a "skill". Anything that can be done by an adult regardless of whether they have been taught isn't what I would call a "skill."

Of course adults can do things they have not been taught as children.
It still doesn't mean that children shouldn't be taught anything.
IMO, the more children learn the better for themselves and their future adults.

And anyone can iron, but if they are taught they will learn how to do it properly and efficiently faster.

No wonder adults are ever more infatilised, if they are only expected to learn things as adults. The best time to learn things is when growing up.
Not suddenly be expected to do things you were perfectly capable of doing a few years back when you magically reach 18.

My children are being "infantalised" by not ironing. They don't need to iron because we don't iron much in our house. My point was that if they do decide to iron as adults they will be able to do it without burning themselves and therefore I wouldn't regard it as a "skill" that I need to teach them in childhood.

My children are not being "infantalised" by not ironing.

And anyone can iron, but if they are taught they will learn how to do it properly and efficiently faster.

I am pretty quick and efficient if on the rare occasion I do iron anything. Anyway, you don't need to be quick or efficient if you only do a couple of items or no items a month.

There is a bit more to ironing than just not burning themselves.
But there is absolutely no reason why children can't learn and I'd think that they can be shown how to do it even if the parents rarely do it, they can only benefit from it. It won't damage them if they don't, but learning anything can only be good for them.

Of course adults can do things they have not been taught as children.
It still doesn't mean that children shouldn't be taught anything.

It means that they don't have to be taught though. It also means it isn't a skill (or at least not what I would define as a skill).

Of course adults can do things they have not been taught as children.
It still doesn't mean that children shouldn't be taught anything.

It means that they don't have to be taught though. It also means it isn't a skill (or at least not what I would define as a skill).

Ironing quickly efficiently is a skill and may need to be taught judging by a lot of shirt collars around.

Teaching your children this and other life skills is good even if you dont or rarely actually iron.

Op asked what age before the thread derailed 9 or 10 imo.

There is a bit more to ironing than just not burning themselves.

There isn't much more to it. Most adults with half a brain could work it out pretty quickly.

But there is absolutely no reason why children can't learn and I'd think that they can be shown how to do it even if the parents rarely do it, they can only benefit from it. It won't damage them if they don't, but learning anything can only be good for them.

I didn't say that children shouldn't learn. I just said that there was no need for them to learn and it wasn't a skill. They will be able to do it as adults (if they want to) regardless. I personally think that as there are only so many hours in the day, if my children are going to learn things outside of school, I would prefer it to be more useful than ironing.

So, the non ironers, do you show your children/teenagers how to treat their clothes/ do the laundry to ensure that their clothes are not a wrinkled mess?

Does anyone here who doesn't iron not use a tumble dryer to do the job instead and if so, what do you do instead?

How many items at a time can you do in the dryer so that they still come out looking nice?

Not sure why the word skill is so contentious, all it means is the ability to do something well. It isn't a definition of high ability in any particular field.

I don't have a tumble dryer.
my dc hang up clothes with me or when I or dh tell them to. they know to shake/smooth before hanging up.
they also fold and pack away their own clothes. they are 6 and 9 and the younger needs a bit more guidance than the older.

I think there is also a difference between a skill and a life skill.

Life skills are the things required in order to look after yourself properly as an adult, for some of us that includes ironing, for others it doesn't. I don't see anyone saying you shouldn't teach your child to cook because they personally just reheat ready meals. Part of that might be because the thread is about ironing :)

Life skills include things like being able to read a bus timetable, manage your cash, take money from a cash machine, clean a toilet etc, all things that an adult should be able to do without being "taught" as such, but it's useful to learn them at a younger age in order to foster independence and increase self esteem.