To make my kids' packed lunches?

[bingowingsmcgee]

..Rather than get them to make their own? They're 7 and 8. Some of my friends have their kids make their own the night before and it's got me thinking am I coddling them by making them? Would be good to hear what others do.

At that age I'd definitely make them myself. My seven year old wouldn't be trust worthy enough not to make Jam sandwiches everyday.

I made my kids lunches till they were 11/12ish but I don't see much wrong with getting them to make a sandwich at 7/8 either

I made my kids lunches until about 12, but I did get them to refill water bottles and fetch a snack from the cupboard at 8

I make packed lunches for my dc who are 10, 8 & 6.

My dd10 said one of her friends makes her own & she only brings crisps & chocolate bars!

My dc like helping make their lunch at the weekends & during school holidays & they also make breakfast from quite often.

Unless the dc really want to make their own (& are supervised) I think packed lunches during primary school should be the parents responsibility.

Could you make the sandwiches, they choose and organise the snacks etc.. or vice versa?

I pack everything in my kids school bags for them. The oldest is 10, I've never even thought to make him do it himself, hmmm I might start.

I think primary school kids can help make lunch if they want to do I don’t think they can be trusted to make their own.
A lot of children at 7/8 won’t have coordination needed to butter bread or cut a sandwich up properly.

Mine are 12 and 13 and I still make theirs. I'm sure they would do it if I asked them but it's been part of my morning routine for so long that I just automatically do it and it doesn't bother me.

I don't think there needs to be an age limit on this. If I'm making lunch for myself it's not a lot of extra effort to make some for the rest of the family too.

I think they are a bit young. Mine help out and might be able to manage a few days, eldest is 9 but I think after a few days it would be crisps, chocolate and biscuits that they would be packing.

Wish mine would do their own. I hate making sandwiches with a passion. Can't stand it for some reason. Luckily they don't take them anymore, they're 12 and 10 and ds just takes a couple of snacks as is at secondary and he usually buys something main. I still have to pack his snacks though cause he's lazy! Dd, 10 packs hey own lunchbox sometimes but she takes easy stuff like dippers, cheese squares, squeezy yoghurt. Things you can just chuck in.

My 7 and 9 year olds could make their own packed lunches, but would need so much supervision (and nagging) and make so much mess it's easier to do it for them! I think once they move to secondary school they will be mostly doing it themselves.

They are both capable of making a (messy) sandwich / lunch though, and usually get their own breakfasts.

DS is13 in October and I make his on the days he takes a packed lunch, it’s just habit now. I just do his and DH’s together the night before.

I’m well aware that DH is capable of making his own lunch but all three of us have our own little tasks that we do of an evening to help each other get ready for the following day

My eldest is 9, she usually makes hers whilst I am washing up or tidying in the kitchen so I can see what she’s doing, otherwise it would be all crisps and biscuits!

If I let the dc do theirs it would take hours and involve a lot of snack food 🤣🤣🤣 they help make food at other times so I’m not worried they will grow up unable to make a sandwich. If I do it, a few minutes at most. I don’t mind, I’m making stuff for myself anyway. They will fetch drinks and do the water bottles. If you’re all happy I wouldn’t worry!

I still make my kids lunches, and they’re 18, 17 and 13!!

Of course they are perfectly capable of doing them themselves, but they plenty of other things instead. Yesterday they cleaned the house from top to bottom between the three of them, so I certainly don’t begrudge naming a few sandwiches!

I make my 6 year olds and I will until she’s finished school probably!
They’ve plenty of time and the rest of their lives to be making lunches. I think it’s a nice thing to do for them .

My mum made mine until I was finished education- aged 22

I make my 8,11 and 14 year olds packed lunch. I also make my 47 and a half year old husbands lunch for work. It's just one of those things that I don't mind doing - I used to make mine and my sister's when we were kids. I find it satisfying to do.
My kids are capable enough, they can make breakfast, make tea and coffee, sort their schoolbags themselves, remember PE stuff, they keep their rooms tidy. The oldest one can mind the youngest one for a bit. We all do the tasks we like the best then fight over the ones we don't . Packed lunches/picnics are mine. The others can claim ironing, bin duty and the other myriad of household bits and pieces I don't like doing.

Why wouldn't you if you want to?
Teach them how to do things, let them practice especially on school break, but it doesn't mean they have to start paying their own bills and making their own way in the world.

They are still little, nothing wrong with people doing things for each other.

I don't have time for my two 7 year olds fancying about in the kitchen in the morning, so I make them. Tbh I envisage making them until the end of primary at least. I takes me 5 mins would probably take them 20, with a load of mess.

Fannying about...

I make 4 lunches in the evening now
Mine, DHs, Ds1 (20 and home for uni and working for the summer) and ds2 (15)

Everyone can make their own lunches but it seems a bit pointless, while I am making the lunches DS1 is walking the dog, DS2 is feeding the cats and DH is loading the dishwasher

My DD is 8, & she generally makes her own lunch.unless she wants a pasta salad or something hot, like spaghetti hoops.

She would take cholcolate spread sandwiches every day, but I do t give her the chance.

To be honest, whilst she’s making hers, I’m maybe making mine or washing up. Never far away so I can see what goes in.

When she asked to go on packed lunches I told her, only if she makes them. I’d much rather she ate school dinners.