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?

Marymary you are being obtuse.

I really am not being obtuse. If you think that you don't understand what I am saying.

I've explained many many times why I don't believe that ironing is purely cosmetic - you are simply choosing to ignore that. Sticking an emoji after your statement doesn't make it true btw.

Hm.. You have said that you don't consider it to be cosmetic but I haven't read a good explanation as to why you think that. Saying that it is "all about how you present yourself to the world" doesn't exactly support your argument that it isn't cosmetic.

You are picking and choosing which things you want to answer.

I am answering the points that are relevant. I haven't got time to answer non relevant questions.

No I didn't mean just make up, I gave lots of other examples that you have chosen to ignore, you also haven't answered whether you do any of those things not simply whether you have taught them to your children.

You didn't give any other relevant examples though., You mentioned things which relate to health and hygeine.

You may need to if your child gets infected, to prevent reinfection and transmission to the rest if the family.
So, certainly not a purely cosmetic activity.

You haven't said anything about stains. Do you wash clothes because they are stained? Why?
Do you wear them stained?

Also, washing clothes is mostly cosmetic. Nobody gets ill from stains in their clothes.

People get ill from being dirty and non-hygienic. Therefore it is necessary to teach children skills that relate to health and hygiene.

You haven't said anything about stains. Do you wash clothes because they are stained? Why?
Do you wear them stained?

I don't think clothes have to be washed if they are stained but otherwise "clean".

I dont get why so many people think that if you teach your kids housework, then their arms will drop off or some shit.
I could do all the chores and cook a full meal from scratch at 8.

Ironing is like anything else, a skill, you can choose whether or not to use it when you are an adult.
Its like cleaning the toilet or going to the dentist. Or eating sprouts that your Nan cooked. Not a barrel of laughs but sometimes you just have to get on with it.
People make such a fucking fuss. Stop being so precious, get off your lazy arse and just do it. The amount of time and energy people spend stressing about it, they could have just got it done.

So, you do send your children to school in stained clothes and you go to work in stained clothes, that weren't unhealthily dirty but cosmetically unpleasant?

Yes, you are either being obtuse of you aren't reading.

Hm.. You have said that you don't consider it to be cosmetic but I haven't read a good explanation as to why you think that. Saying that it is "all about how you present yourself to the world" doesn't exactly support your argument that it isn't cosmetic.
it makes (some of) us feel better and that in turn is good for our mental health
I believe that mental health and self esteem is as important as eating properly

You didn't give any other relevant examples though., You mentioned things which relate to health and hygeine.

So another question then, if it's all just cosmetic, do you choose clothes you look nice in or doesn't that matter? do you wear make up? Get your hair cut in a style that suits your face?

You may need to if your child gets infected, to prevent reinfection and transmission to the rest if the family.

You don't have to iron clothes to prevention reinfection and transmission of threadworm.

it makes (some of) us feel better and that in turn is good for our mental health

You could say exactly the same thing about make up!! It really doesn't support your argument.

So another question then, if it's all just cosmetic, do you choose clothes you look nice in or doesn't that matter? do you wear make up? Get your hair cut in a style that suits your face?

How is what I do regarding make up or clothes relevant to the question of what is or isn't cosmetic or what "life skills" children should be taught.

You brought up the question of make up Marynary and how ironing and the use of make up are equally cosmetic. Now you're saying what you do about make up is irrelevant?

Oh well.

You could say exactly the same thing about make up!! It really doesn't support your argument.

Yes, I did say the same about make-up - that was the point.

How is what I do regarding make up or clothes relevant to the question of what is or isn't cosmetic or what "life skills" children should be taught.

It's relevant because you said that ironing clothes was purely cosmetic, I asked what other things you do that could also be deemed as simply cosmetic. You've chosen not to answer so I will assume that you do do other things that people could deem as simply cosmetic so as well as being obtuse you are also being a hypocrite.

It's easy enough to go through the thread and cherry pick bits that people have said whilst ignoring the other bits, all that is doing is tying your point up in knots.

I have every respect for people who have simply said that the don't iron as they don't view it as a priority and don't care if their clothes are not pressed or are happy to buy materials that don't crease and/or have other laundry routines that diminish creasing.

You haven't at any point said what it is you do do or where you actually stand. All you've done is belittle other people's choices and insisted that teaching your children to take care of things that include their appearance are not life skills.

You brought up the question of make up Marynary and how ironing and the use of make up are equally cosmetic. Now you're saying what you do about make up is irrelevant?

Whether or not I wear makeup is irrelevant to the question of whether ironing, like make-up is cosmetic. It is also irrelevant to the question of whether ironing (or applying makeup) is a life skill that children should be taught.

Magnum, I had the same issue with Marynary earlier on in the thread - she will deliberately ignore any thing that doesn't support her argument that ironing is the work of Satan and we must not pass the insidious practice onto our children...

It's relevant because you said that ironing clothes was purely cosmetic, I asked what other things you do that could also be deemed as simply cosmetic. You've chosen not to answer so I will assume that you do do other things that people could deem as simply cosmetic so as well as being obtuse you are also being a hypocrite.

Eh? I wear make-up but that doesn't mean if think it is necessary or something people should do. It is certainly cosmetic and I wouldn't say that other people should wear it. I certainly wouldn't say that it is a "life skill" that children need to be taught how to do.

Magnum, I had the same issue with Marynary earlier on in the thread - she will deliberately ignore any thing that doesn't support her argument that ironing is the work of Satan and we must not pass the insidious practice onto our children...

I'm not ignoring anything. I have limited time and if lots of posters are writing lots of irrelevant stuff I'm not going to waste my time answering irrelevant points.
I keep stating that I am not saying people should not iron. People should do whatever they want to do. I am just making the point that it really isn't necessary and it isn't some important life skill that children need to learn.

I can't be bothered with this any more. When a poster just keeps arguing for the sake of it, contradicting themselves or even worse seems to not remember what they've put in their previous posts then the whole thing begins to get stupid.

I'm off.

Marynary I suggest you go back and read the thread through from the beginning because you're going round in circles.

expressotogo :)

I was happy to go on with it as I was quite enjoying myself, it's getting exceedingly boring now tbh. It's not really an argument where there is a right and a wrong.

Unless you are going round in a crushed potato sack with uncut hair and no make up then to some extent you have some kind of pride in your appearance beyond simply keeping warm and dry. I've yet to have explained how not ironing but still remaining smart is a time saver as it seems to mean that you are carefully buying and therefore limiting your options, which to me takes longer and/or you are treating your garments very carefully, with tumble drying in small numbers of items at a time and carefully folding/hanging. That doesn't really seem much less work than ironing. DH did three wash loads earlier and it took him less than half an hour.

So the only time saver really is not care whether the items are crushed or not. In that case I would expect that you also don't take an interest in what could be deemed as only cosmetic.

Anyway, I think I've had enough of going round in circles.

I agree pigs - I can't be doing with this level of twattery

Laters .......

Yes, I agree that there are a lot of twats on this thread and it is getting boring. I'm going to do something more interesting.

...the ironing?

I have limited time

Just off to put in another washing while the sun is shining and I can dry it outside.

I'll then do 15 minutes ironing while watching the rugby (Scarlets v Warriors) and that'll be me done for the week

I've just brought the last of the holiday laundry in since we are going out in a wee while, it's still a wee bit damp curtesy or the hail and snow today but I'll finish it off in the tumble drier.....it'll still need ironed though I am sure. DHs job for tomorrow.

I haven't RTWT but I feel at the age of 12 kids should be able to iron if they need to - my dcs need to iron their scout uniform for St George's Day parade, Cubs and Scouts have rewarded them for this skill.
I like them to feel capable and be able to do stuff for themselves.
I feel that with maturity comes privileges, rewards and responsibilities, they are expected to pull their weight when required - they get a very nice life in return.

I think kids should be able to do it at 12 (as in it's safe for them to learn) but I wouldn't make a point to teach them necessarily. My DS is almost 12 and it never crossed my mind yet. I would be more interested in him learning to cook for example.

It's easier to teach kids when they have interest - which they might when they're in love or do an important presentation. I wouldn't press the matter.

Although if I'd be drowning in ironing - then yes, there's nothing wrong with sharing the workload.