Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would you expect an 8 year old to do these things without help?

88 replies

OhImVisiblyOver25 · 09/08/2022 09:57

Brush teeth properly
Shower
Wash shoulder length hair
Tie shoe laces
Do and undo top button on a shirt
Sit properly on a chair at the dinner table

OP posts:
123boom · 09/08/2022 13:33

My dd is 9, has no other issues, and can do all. However, she only recently mastered laces and I try and supervise brushing teeth as she will try and get away with none! I think kids can vary a lot with some of these things

Fevertree · 09/08/2022 13:33

Bottom 3 yes
Top 3 no

SkankingWombat · 09/08/2022 14:10

OhImVisiblyOver25 · 09/08/2022 13:25

This is the issue we’re having. She can do these things, if she needs to be ready for something SHE wants to do she can do all of these things easily. If it’s not something she wants to do she pretends she can’t do these things. I’m in my own in the mornings with her and the baby and I’m trying to get all of us ready and it doesn’t help when I have to keep sending her back to the bathroom to get her teeth cleaned properly as she absolutely will not let me do it for her, plus I also think I don’t need to do it for her as she can do it herself but is just dragging ass with it. I hate starting the day off stressed and so does she.

To help motivate my DCs to get ready, they must be up, teeth brushed, been to the loo, dressed, and any items needs for the day packed/brought to me to pack before they can eat breakfast. They are very motivated by food! On days where they are exceptionally slow, I have been known to remind them that we will be leaving at 8.30 regardless of the volume of food consumed, and it makes no difference to me if their tummies are hungry and rumbly at school (obviously I do care, but I want to emphasise that they are causing any suffering to themselves and I am not prepared to be late because they faffed). Equally at bedtime, reading them a story is left until last. I remind them that every minute procrastinating is a minute less of their story.
Is there a part of your morning (or bedtime) routine your DD prizes that you can dangle carrot-like for once she's done everything else?

SleepingAgent · 09/08/2022 14:23

Would brush teeth yes but need reminded to do it for longer than 15 seconds!

I imagine quite a lot would need help with long hair to check it's done properly at that age. It's tiring rubbing and rinsing especially if very thick.

Shoelaces - hmm tricky one - some kids get co-ordination earlier than others, so I'd just keep encouraging the practising and help if necessary.

The others, by 8 and NT, yes.

Sartre · 09/08/2022 14:32

Yeah because my DC all definitely did the above at 8, probably from 7 comfortably tbh.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 09/08/2022 14:43

I’m in my own in the mornings with her and the baby

Has she been an only child or youngest child up until the age of 7/8, and then a baby sibling?

If so she may be acting up for attention, or it may be that you were helping her with stuff more than you realised, and now you can't. Either way, the suggestion to have something she likes at the end of the process (eg breakfast and cartoons) seems a good one.

Hakeandling · 09/08/2022 14:48

from experience of own kids and those of friends :

Brush teeth properly-not necessarily-should be able to give them a good go but still need supervision
Shower-yes as long as shower straightforward and not likely to scald

Wash shoulder length hair-might still need help

Tie shoe laces-possible but needs teaching and practise

Do and undo top button on a shirt-yes

Sit properly on a chair at the dinner table-yes but for variable lengths of time

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 09/08/2022 14:48

My 7 year old can tie laces but only because he plays football and has big feet for his age. It took me a while to teach him. We used to race each other, one boot each.
He does a good job of brushing teeth but I still supervise.
He showers and can do his buttons.
Sitting still is very much a work in progress.

StandUpPirates · 09/08/2022 15:13

Brush teeth properly - yes and no. You should be supervising and brushing and flossing once a day until they are at 10.
Shower - yes
Wash shoulder length hair - DD needed help until about 10.5. Still needs help rinsing if she's tired!

Tie shoe laces - DD learnt this in the year she turned 9. Until then all shoes in her size were Velcro or button laces.

Do and undo top button on a shirt - I have no idea, DD has never had to do this. She could certainly button and unbutton a cardigan about 6 but that must be far easier than a small shirt button.

Sit properly on a chair at the dinner table That's entirely dependent on the food, mood and how much you engage them in conversation or activity you give them to at the table e.g. colouring. So at 8 yes, but not reliably or consistently or when you want them to.

Minikievs · 09/08/2022 15:13

My 8 yo DD yes. At 8 years old my DS struggled with laces.

Suedomin · 09/08/2022 15:19

All children are different and develop at different rates . However I think all children at 8 will need reminding about things. I think it's too much to expect them to just so everything on that list.
Doing up laces, top button an a shirt and washing their own hair are particularly difficult

liveforsummer · 09/08/2022 15:27

Just because she can do it doesn't mean she doesn't find it hard. It's not lazy to not want to constantly do things you find difficult and making it a battle won't help. Lots of praise when she does do it but it's ok just to help out sometimes. Like a pp said she won't still be needing you to do it at 13

Wnikat · 09/08/2022 15:50

Mine can't do some of that but he's always struggled with motor skills so I don't shame him if he e.g struggles to sit properly on a chair as I think he finds that harder than other kids, for example his little sister.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page