How old were your children when they started to get their own breakfast?

[Soubriquet]

Not a TAAT but more inspired by

I saw lots of posts saying that at 12, the parents should still be doing the breakfast

My 6 year old happily gets her own cereal, adds milk, eats it and even puts the bowl in the sink.

She will do it for her 4 year old brother too.

She’s been doing this since she was 5. She’s famously independent and loves being able to do things herself

If my 6 year old can do it, why can’t a child with no SEN do it at 12?

It is a TAAT. Really why do you need to judge? Both my Dc could do breakfast at 12. One would cook elaborate meals and enjoy being independent. The other had no interest in food, so on a school day was easier just to give him breakfast. Does it really matter what others do?

What is your AIBU ?

Mine started at 5 the although I’d pop the milk in a jug on the table! They would put the dishes in the sink after they had finished

What's a TAAT?

Of course they can. I presume the people insisting a parent "should" be "doing g breakfast" are talking about being there for the children, creating a pleasant atmosphere, being supportive etc. Not about the fine motor skills required to pour cereal...

It's a balance IMO. Leaving school age children to sort themselves every morning seems a bit emotionally cold. However waiting on your children as though they're staying at a bed and breakfast every morning isn't a great idea either - children should be able to do age appropriate self care, and that includes bring able to feed themselves in an age appropriate way (cereal and toast at 6 or 7, scrambled eggs/ pancakes or anything else by 12).

I think being physically and emotionally present on a school morning is important, but who pours the cereal or makes the toast isn't.

My 5 year DS got his own cereal, milk, spoon, and bowl this morning. Afterwards he put the box in the recycling, plastic liner in the bin and bowl and spoon in the sink afterwards. Could have been worse!!

Mine is 10 and I go his breakfast, he could do it himself if pushed but he'd make a mess and generally in the mornings it's easier for me to do whilst I make mine and my husbands. Weekdays are too hectic to be watching him pour milk etc

TAAT = Thread About A Thread. It'll be deleted, I imagine.

I make my 7yo breakfast because why the fuck not? He can't reach the cupboard with the bowls nor the one with the cereal. He takes everything into the kitchen and puts it in the sink, without fail after every meal.

And on porridge days I'm not letting him near the gas cooker with a lighter

I don't know why people get their knickers in such a twist over insignificant things other people do.

Mine dont make their own breakfast unless they leave the house at 05.0hrs for work

Meant to add mine are 22 and 19.

Mine have been doing cereal since about 6 (I'd put a bowl of milk in the fridge the night before and they'd just pour in the cereal and grab a spoon) but I still do porridge and they're 7 and 10..

But you have inspired me to get the 10 year old at least making his own porridge - its pretty easy..

Mine have been making theirs since they were around 6. It was a very happy time when we realised our eldest could get up on the weekends and sort breakfast for them both so we could stay in bed and snooze a little longer!

When they were 5/6. They’re now almost 7, almost 8 and 9 and I very rarely sort breakfast (only if it’s pancakes, eggs or a cooked breakfast).

It’s pouring cereal into a bowl or putting toast in the toaster, not rocket science.

My 6yo is also starting to make her own cereal, we get 1 pint cartons of milk just for her to make it easier for her. I certainly won't be making my kids' breakfasts when they're 12!

This is MN though and the responses were ridiculous on that thread, including many people saying the OP was being cruel for making her 6yo breakfast but not her 12yo

Our 6 and 9 yo manage, need a little help here and there but they trot off downstairs while DH and I make beds etc and we'll come down to a set table and kids eating cereal.

They don't do toast or anything fancy though.

My 5 year old can sort himself out if he wants to. I am quite happy to do it for him still though, but there it is. He can sort his own cereal, he can cut himself a slice of bread (not a particularly tidy slice admittedly), he can get himself a drink. And he tidies up after himself which is nice.

I didn't see the thread that you're talking about but my youngest (12) can make a cooked breakfast- bacons, sausages etc but wouldn't have the confidence to do pancakes so I do that sometimes.

Age 5 for cereal(?) No special needs and they all knew not to use the toaster with a knife and not to put plastic in the microwave.

My 10yo can but as others have said it creates a nice atmosphere to be with them at breakfast, get stjff down for them if you are in the kitchen etc.

That said she did make me a cup of tea this morning so I guess it turns in to helping each other eventually.

I have 5 yo too and he likes to pour his milk at least.

I keep the cereals a bit high up - just the way the kitchen is and a fear of mice coming in after our old house.

When breakfast is cold and involves nothing more than a pouring cereal or grabbing something from the fridge a child can do it from 3/4. Both my nephews will pour their own cereal and milk for example and have done it since 3.

My 7 yo neice doesn’t like cold breakfast and has just started to learn how to cook her own breakfast (she likes eggs and Indian masala tea) but I think it will be a while yet before she’s able to do it by herself.

About 6 for cereal, more like 8 for porridge (done in microwave). 10 to be big enough to manage our heavy kettle on the gas hob.

I’m there, usually emptying the dishwasher or folding laundry. It’s just more efficient if they sort themselves out in terms of food.

What’s wrong with making a child breakfast? Most parents will be eating breakfast anyway so to make some for your own child isn’t really a hardship is it?

Mine are all toddlers so I obviously have no choice but to make breakfast but when I was a child my parents always made breakfast and we sat at the table together. I didn’t leave home being unable to cook as I often helped out at dinner etc

My nephew is 13 and stays with me twice a month, I make him breakfast and we talk while he eats. It’s just nice

I’m an adult and when we go and stay at my parents my Dad makes me breakfast everyday, I don’t ask him too he just does it

OP..You let your 6 year old eat cereal for breakfast with all that sugar? Off to start a TAAT on eating unhealthy breakfast.

joking obviously...

@TeddyBear45 your niece is my kind of people!

Both my boys were doing theirs in reception. Helped whilst in nursery, but progressed to own cereal by reception.

Now I only cook 1-2 evenings a week as they cook the rest of the time at 14 & 19. It’s great having food brought into me each evening. Ive always believed that installing good cooking skills in children is one of life’s lessons. Yet I know some friends who’s teens ‘don’t know how to make toast’🙄. But each to their own, if we all brought up our children the same life would be boring!