Interesting range of abilities, opportunity and opinions.
My 8 year old can do most of that list.
She does not go near a hot oven, as she is clumsy and forgetful.
But she loves to prick potatoes, put them in a cold oven and turn it on.
She expects to have a turn at anything me or her older (teen) brother are doing.
So she has learned to mow lawn. (Not left to do the whole big garden on her own, but she can do a couple of rows while we watch).
Usually, when its dishes time, I wash and they dry between them. Putting away as they go.
I used to dry dishes from about 5 or 6.
She picks her own clothes. A small war would start if I tried to dress her. Other days, I have to choose which plain grey sock goes on which of her feet... asd.
She likes to get herself a ready meal in the microwave. She puts a plate i front of it and uses oven gloves to slide the plastic dish on to the plate. And carry the cold plate.
She understands that clothes need washing. Can load washer. Add cleaning stuff. Select "mixed" and start it.
But cant put her worn clothes in the wash.
Not in the bathroom basket. Not by her bedroom door. Not in the kitchen, near the machine.
She is the most independent child i have ever known. Sometimes i feel robbed as her mum!
We all offer suggestions to a meal plan. Ds would have pizza every day given the chance.
They have a couple of meals they like to cook together, so often suggest those.
They choose breakfast cereals.
Fruit, snacks.
I started this thread as i was feeling very down, about a comment from a "health professional ".
She said i was a bad parent to dd.
I was brought up to listen to children. If they ask "can i do that? " "can i try?"etc, then you would explain how to do it safely, a step at a time and supervise them. If they managed it , they could have another go next time.
If it is something they cant do... eg dd wants to drive the car. Let her sit in the driver seat, bum all the way back, belt on.
Oh no, you cant press the pedals.
You tried, but you weren't big enough.have to try again another day (in 10 years time!)
If a child wants water and can reach the sink and a suitable container, why cant they get water? Especially if I am in the garden, out of earshot... mowing the lawn. She would get 3 plastic beakers and fill them all. One each for us all.
My dd never complains about being "given too much to do". She is desperate to join in and gets extremely upset if she isnt allowed to have a try at things.
I know most things are done faster/to a better standard when not done by an 8 year old. But how else will they learn? Surely our job as parents is to teach them to be independent, among other things? Obviously, nobody expects a baby to make his own milk... but learning as you grow is good.
When dd was in reception class, we had a picnic. The kids had to give us a "menu" and we would choose our "dinner". The kids would then make and serve is sandwich.
About half the kids could do it, as had done it before. It was new to the others. And I expect showed the parents something the kids could do at home.
Same with making a bed. Ds had a school residential in junior school.
Out of a class of 30, there were 2 kids who had no idea how to make their bed.
The others soon paired up and helped each other with quilt covers or managed on their own. They helped one boy with his bed, as he generally helped other kids with other things. The last (very spoilt) boy, nobody helped to start with, as he spent most of his time causing trouble for everyone.
Eventually, they gave him simple instructions and he managed.
I know some kids need extra/different help. My 14 year old godson cant tie laces. He has a lot of health issues. His mum was changing his bed one day, and I said we would do it. Let "sam" have a go himself. There is no rush, I will help him, while you do the girls beds. Sam put his quilt in his cover. He was so proud, and smiled about it for several days. (Note, the girls are even more disabled than sam!)
But just because I didnt rush home from work, put my pinny on and start making a full dinner for dd (school dinners), I am a bad parent. My dd should not be allowed to make porridge or toast. Or a sandwich. Or snack on fruit and veg. She should not be responsible for putting her school uniform in the wash. I should be running around as her slave until she leaves home.
Picking up everything she drops/leaves.
Never teaching her to do things herself.
And well done to the little lad who had to learn to cut his own apples at pre school.