Independence and chores by age

[Littlemuster]

Obviously, each child varies but ballpark figures are useful. OH and I have very different experiences and I wondered what the general consensus is.
What ages do you think are appropriate for tasks such as:

Ironing
Making a cup of tea
Reheating using the microwave
Preparing a family meal
Washing up (including pots and pans - with allergies In the family, so thoroughly.)
Cleaning the bath/toilet
Hoovering

Age for:
Popping to the shop/posting a letter
Playing/hanging out with friends (both locally/travelling to an activity)
Going to school alone (short/long journey)

I think most of the things you've listed are for teens, I was probably fully doing all of them by about 14/15 (the making family meal, properly washing dishes etc bumps the age up I think)

The making cups of tea, reheating in micro etc I allow my 7 yr old to do but only with supervision. I reckon another year or two before he can do it himself (he could probably technically do it now but just the safety issue). My four year old hoovers but it's not really hoovering I wouldn't count that.

Walking to school......depends on the area. We have a really busy junction cross so will be a long time before they can do that.

Children can start helping with cooking from 3/4, then make cold meals (sandwiches etc) from 5/6, then hot stuff depends on the child. I'd have trusted my DS with that from 8, but nieces only from 10 or so. Better to get them started on the habit of housework really young and correct any mistakes afterwards, than wait until they're teens and can no longer be tricked into thinking it's fun.

Mine have been able to leave the house on their own (as long as I know where they're going and when they'll be back) from 9/10.

We don't even own an iron
Making a cup of tea - 9
Reheating using the microwave - 9
Preparing a family meal - 11
Washing up doing a thorough job - 11
Cleaning the bath/toilet - 13
Hoovering - 9

Popping to the shop/posting a letter - 9
Playing/hanging out with friends - 10
Going to school alone - 10

It depends on the child and the situation.

For example, DS was popping to the shop & posting letters at 6 (nearer to 7 though) but we live in a quiet village close to the shop and he's pretty sensible.

Depends on the child, area experience etc. If a child has been cooking with an adult since they were 2/3 then they will be able to cook a meal earlier than one who hasn’t.

If your shops or post box are a mile away it’s different to one round the corner etc.

I have two DD's and they've both made a cup of tea from age 9-10. Using the microwave the same age.

My older DD is now 13 and irons if she wants to.

Cooking for a family...neither have done a complete meal but both can make pasta with something like chorizo/tomato sauce

Washing up 10

Cleaning bath toilet....I've never asked them to.

Hoovering, both like hoovering and have done so for a few years...but not very effectively.

Popping to shop alone...age 9.
Meeting friends, going to cinema on bus etc.12
Walking to school...11 because the roads here are bad. I would allow it at 9/10 otherwise.

Ironing - 14
Making a cup of tea - 10
Reheating using the microwave - 8/9
Preparing a family meal - I never prepared my family a meal when I lived at home but 16/17
Washing up (including pots and pans - with allergies In the family, so thoroughly.) -12
Cleaning the bath/toilet - 11/12
Hoovering -9

Age for:
Popping to the shop/posting a letter - depends how far the shop is - 10
Playing/hanging out with friends (both locally/travelling to an activity) locally 9.. travelling 11
Going to school alone (short/long journey) - short 10 and long 11/12

Your question has reminded me of a Mum at school. Her son is 11 and they live about quarter mile from school. Probably closer. The school won't allow him to walk home without a parent. So the answer to that question must be secondary school age to walk to school.

mumof3boys33 - my daughters primary school let them walk to and from school in year 6 so from 10

I think they iron and make cups of tea in brownies...so 7/8 ish?
I let my 2 year old put stuff in the microwave and press the buttons! (I obvs stir things and take them out)
Meals...some 3/4 year olds can make sandwiches at nursery, maybe 7/8 to use the hob? Depends on sensibleness and height probably.
With allergies 8 again but i'd probably re-do the pots and pans.
Hoovering 7/8ish
Cleaning the bathroom 10/11ish (chemicals!)

All the other stuff depends on area and roads, I was allowed to take myself to and from gymastics (at the end of the road, no roads to cross) by year 5 but I wasn't allowed to go to nearest shop (15/20 min walk away) till I started secondary.
Walking to/from school most people I think start at secondary school, especially if they have a younger sibling as their parent will still be taking the younger one.

(I only have a 2 year old, my friends 8 year old is basically a giant in comparison :D )

Your question has reminded me of a Mum at school. Her son is 11 and they live about quarter mile from school. Probably closer. The school won't allow him to walk home without a parent. So the answer to that question must be secondary school age to walk to school.

That's ridiculous. Ours can leave without an adult from yr3 with parental permission.

Can't give you specifics, but I allowed DS to get away with murder when it came to chores, he had them but we have a severely disabled different DS and it was just so easier to get it done myself. Anyway, bottom line is, in the long run, it wasn't easier and it did him no favours.

Make sure your kids are as independent as possible, advice I wish I'd had 15 years ago.

Yes I know it's ridiculous about school. She just told me that the head has said she must collect her son. As far as I know she is the only Mum to ask as most of them live in other villages and travel by car.

mumof3boys it depends on the school. My DC's school lets them walk home from yr5 if you sign a form.