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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

121 replies

Soubriquet · 03/05/2019 11:19

Not a TAAT but more inspired by

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

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? Confused

OP posts:
IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom · 03/05/2019 15:48

I actually think its shocking that an adult man is happy to let his mother bring him his breakfast and that you think that isn't the definition of laziness.

CountFosco · 03/05/2019 15:50

As far as the height thing goes we are a short family so anything in regular use is down low but we also have a stool in the kitchen for reaching high cupboards and the kids use it for the stove quite a bit as well.

Propertywoes · 03/05/2019 16:30

There's caring for your kids, which is what we all do, and then there's being a skivvy.

One of the most essential parts of being a parent is teaching them how to look after themselves and building good habits of self care. I wonder how many of these children can also help with housework or if they'll all be let out into the wild at 21 or whatever, completely lacking any skills or motivation to look after themselves.

SweetMarmalade · 03/05/2019 16:37

Ds recently bought me marmalade on toast and a cup of tea in bed, he’s 12.

Breakfast on a School morning though, nope. I get it for him otherwise it would be - get bowl out, admire the birds in the garden, open fridge door, look out of kitchen window to see if the pigeon is still there, close fridge door (without getting the milk out). Open cupboard, close cupboard. Stand looking out of the window, shout me to come and see the squirrel!

Obviously I’m exaggerating but you get the picture! Grin

I should just let him get on with it but atm it’s easier this way.

janeybumtum · 03/05/2019 16:41

When I was 4/5 I was pouring cereal into my bowl and putting the milk on it. It was fine if it was from a small bottle but my DDad would pour it if I couldn't lift it without spilling it everywhere.
By 7/8 I stood on a stool to reach the kitchen surface to make toast.
I didn't really like porridge or cooked breakfasts then and my parents didn't make them so I've only ever made those for myself as an adult.

From the age of about 3 I used to bake with my grandma and assist with the assembly of sandwiches - I wasn't allowed to use any sharp knives until I was much older though

Sculpin · 03/05/2019 16:45

My eldest is 13. Sometimes he gets his own breakfast and sometimes I do it for him. I honestly can't see the big deal either way.

SleepingSloth · 03/05/2019 16:50

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

They can but there's also nothing wrong with a parent making it for their child. My kids can do lots of things but I'm still their mum, I like looking after them and helping them out. Equally they will make tea and meals for us if we ask them to or if we are not well or we are running late. Making breakfast for a 12 year old isn't a problem.

Mumsnet kids tend to be self sufficient by age 7 though, making all meals, doing their own washing, ironing and never getting a lift anywhere. 🙄

5catsnow · 03/05/2019 17:04

Is this s competition to see who can do the least for their kids as soon as possible in the mornings?

What an odd thread.

I have 4 DC, 9, 11, 13, 15 and I make them and DH breakfast every morning. It’s a mini cafe. Porridge and fruit; banana bread, omelettes; eggs in rye; açai bowls; cinnamon or chai lattes between 7 and 7.30 am! Why not? Then they all go off and that’s that.

NameUserChange · 03/05/2019 17:13

What do you mean by get breakfast? If you mean get a bowl out, get the cereal and pour it in so that it overflows over the table then attempt to hoist the milk out while I rush to stop them...then my 3.5yr old daughter can do that (and wants to). I imagine she will get her breakfast properly within the next year or 2? If I get a small milk...

iolaus · 03/05/2019 17:20

In truth I'm not sure - I know I rarely made it for my youngest from about 3/4 but I suspect he got his sisters to make it for him (as he's 8 and still asks them to do it)

I'm guessing some time in junior school though - once they got to comp they also did their own packed lunches (slightly younger than that I'd do the sandwich/roll etc but they'd pick the fruit/yoghurt/snack they wanted to add to it)

Natsku · 03/05/2019 17:30

How tall are your five year olds? My five year old couldn't reach anything to make his own breakfast, I think at 12 he will be able to make himself something to eat

DD used a step stool to reach things, still does for high cupboards

Mominatrix · 03/05/2019 17:34

Mine have been able to rummage through cupboard and feed themselves since they were 5-6. At 10, they were able to use the hob and boil pasta - they can even make their own pasta sauce from scratch. My teen makes all of his snacks (scrambled eggs on toast, hot pockets, porridge, etc)

I still get most of their breakfasts for them for expediency sake.

Oysterbabe · 03/05/2019 17:36

I make breakfast for myself and husband, why not the kids too? It's not always a question of not being able to do it.

manicinsomniac · 03/05/2019 17:37

Depends on the child, doesn't it.

I don't let my 16 year old sort her own breakfast because I don't trust her. She's at a specialist dance/performing arts school and, if I left her to it, she'd head off for a very physical day on nothing or just an apple.

My 12 year old is different. She's faddy and variable but she won't starve. She sometimes gets her own, sometimes has school breakfast and sometimes eats whatever I'm making.

IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom · 03/05/2019 17:42

Is this s competition to see who can do the least for their kids as soon as possible in the mornings? What an odd thread. I have 4 DC, 9, 11, 13, 15 and I make them and DH breakfast every morning. It’s a mini cafe. Porridge and fruit; banana bread, omelettes; eggs in rye; açai bowls; cinnamon or chai lattes between 7 and 7.30 am! Why not? Then they all go off and that’s that.

It's not really odd that most people don't have time to "run a little cafe" Hmm for your children and your husband

Are you a housewife? Maybe you have that sort of time on your hands considering your children are in school but most people have jobs.

And some might even want their children and husbands to be reasonably self sufficient at that age.

IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom · 03/05/2019 17:45

Making breakfast for a 12 year old isn't a problem

I do think that university must come as a fucking massive shock to people at 18 who have been left to act like babies through their teens.

It's not a nice thing to do, it really isn't. It's going to be scary for them.

RedSheep73 · 03/05/2019 17:45

My 11yo does her own cereal. My 12yo prefers toast and I don't quite trust him not to set the house on fire - he does put stuff on it himself though.

notacooldad · 03/05/2019 17:49

I don't let my 16 year old sort her own breakfast because I don't trust her. She's at a specialist dance/performing arts school and, if I left her to it, she'd head off for a very physical day on nothing or just an apple
Why not try not doing and see what happens?

Both my lads aren't morning people but during the school says they would take something like malt loaf for mud morning when they were ready to eat.
Once they started working the ame pattern started until they had to be up for 05.00hrs some morning. They soon realised they couldnt do a full morning if driving, heavy manual work and everything else without eating.

They started making over night oats!
Sometimes I get up and make breakfast for them as it's nice to gave a catch up and chat.

5catsnow · 03/05/2019 17:49

Anyone can make a bowl of cereal. Even a 2 year old - it’s just s question of how much mess they make. Why have a thread about cereal skills in toddlers? What next?

This has no relevance whatsoever to coping skills at uni. Confused or general adult life.

Indiana - yes I did make my husband Shock breakfast as do millions of people I expect. It’s just a nice thing to do.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 03/05/2019 17:51

I make breakfast me for me and children, always have. DH does his own as eats at different times. They are children, as long as they know how to do something they will have the life skill. They don't need to do it all the time, childhood is so very short.

Youngandfree · 03/05/2019 17:52

Yeah my 6 yr old has just started to get her own cereal on a Saturday morning, it’s so cute!! Bless her!! But on a school day I will sort it, or make eggy bread, porridge etc.

smurffette · 03/05/2019 17:52

My Son is Three and a half and makes his own cereal, pours cereal In the bowl, get the milk from the fridge and pours, puts in back in and grabs himself a spoon
...he's made microwave scrambled eggs before too

IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom · 03/05/2019 17:55

his has no relevance whatsoever to coping skills at uni. confused or general adult life

Course not Grin

justasking111 · 03/05/2019 17:59

I`ve always laid up for breakfast the night before. Bowls, spoons, glasses, cereals, jams. Milk and juice is in the fridge they can help themselves. If they want croissants, toast, they make it themselves.

NameUserChange · 03/05/2019 18:01

. It’s a mini cafe. Porridge and fruit; banana bread, omelettes; eggs in rye; açai bowls; cinnamon or chai lattes between 7 and 7.30 am! Why not?

Because many people live in the real world?!