To let my dc get themselves cereal

[cadburyegg]

My dc are 8 and 5 and I told a friend our morning routine - they get dressed for school before going downstairs, I help the 5 year old a bit with his jumper and brush his teeth, then they help themselves to cereal whilst I get dressed. - 10 mins max. They don't use the toaster, or anything like that.

But my friend said that I was being irresponsible, and that they still need supervision, and me being upstairs isn't good enough. He said that my 8 year old isn't mature enough yet.

What do you think? AIBU? How old were your kids?

If they were getting ready for school while you were trying to sleep longer, that wouldn’t be great. Not so much because they need direct supervision, but because they need the example and a feeling of being in it together, as well as the ability to call on you should anything go wrong. But since you’re up and doing things and they don’t have to wonder if they ought to disturb you or not, or feel like they have to get on with things without you, it’s just fine. Good for them, even, to be able to develop the independence that comes from being able to learn to get on with things in a low stakes environment.

Me reading these comments realising how much I baby my 6 year old because I didnt want the judgement OP has faced for leaving him to get dressed/make cereal by himself. Totally stealing the 'small jug of milk in the fridge to reduce milk wastage' idea. Weekend lie ins, here I come!

Just stopping by with a ♥️ as yes, no reason your 6 year old can't get a bowl of cereal together by themselves - I used to leave a clean bowl on the side and plenty of clean spoons in the drawer. Milk in the fridge, cereal on the kitchen table around that age. You're around if they need you, but nothing major

My 3yo did it this morning for the first time, I was pretty proud. (I was downstairs but I’m a different room sorting a cat related incident)

Mine was getting his own by 3. I used to leave the ceral covered by a plastic lid with a plastic cup for the milk. When he got a little older he could manage the 4 pinter.

He loved doing it.

“We only had one fire”

😂

At 8 my brother and I were routinely making tea / coffee for our parents.

My brother once used gravy browning instead of coffee before he learned to read.

In fact at 8 I was coming home from school, letting myself in to the house and peeling potatoes for tea.

I'm not saying I should have been.

Tell your friend to watch an episode of Masterchef junior.

What? No, you do your teeth immediately on waking to wash away bacteria and played build up from overnight. You never do them directly after eating as you will have softened your enamel and risk damaging.

Tell your friend to wind her neck in🤣my only concern would be they would fill the bowl.so much that the cereal would not last very long

My kids are 6 and 3 and race me to get the cereal poured because they are so excited to do so. Worst that can happen is a spill.

Honestly that's ridiculous, at that age you should be able to leave kids for 10 mins and even so Im sure you're listening and only a shout away.

mine are teens now but they got their own breakfasts from a young age. These days they cook all sorts without me around, evening meals, cakes, toasties. Im very proud of their cooking skills.

People like your friend are the reason some kids leave home unable to cook and use a washing machine. They need a bit of independence in order to function as adults. Crack on!

My 8 year old uses the toaster unsupervised! She's totally fine. My 3 year old is able to make cereal by himself.

It’s fine, but these threads do get a little bit silly with posters falling over themselves to insist that their toddlers go downstairs and make their own breakfasts before getting themselves off to nursery.

In your specific case, it’s fine, you’re right there.

As a general sort of rule, self sufficiency isn’t always a sign of independence and maturity. There’s a reason we don’t go from child to adult overnight.

Yeah my 3yo enjoys pouring her own too

Your friend is definitely weird. 8 years old is plenty of enough and 5 is depending on the child.

My oldest could responsibly make a cup of tea at 6, though I never let her do it unsupervised.

Your friend is ridiculous

Does your friend actually have children?
They are being ridiculous

I only wish my 4yo could get his own Cereal whilst I got ready! (he's only just turned four and would 100% spill the milk and mix 5 cereals together for fun whilst helping himself to whatever else was in the fridge). At the moment I get him to get the Cereal and milk out of the fridge whilst I watch him and he pours it himself whilst I supervise. As soon as he is ready he will be doing it himself. I actually see this as really good parenting OP, you're teaching them independence and that you don't do everything for them. Well done.

Of Course that’s fine? Kids need independence

Why can't they make cereal and toast in the mornings at 8 FGS

My lad baked a cake from scratch, worked his own measurements out, at 8

I was at work his 16yr old sister was "supervising" probably upstairs.

He didnt burn the house down.

I was cooking roast dinners at 10 as my mum had come out a mental hospital and couldn't cope.

Kids today are wrapped in cotton wool

Your children sound great and your friend is a berk.

Mine are 8/6 and they make toast, crumpets with toaster and porridge in microwave

They aren't stupid and know to wear oven gloves to take bowl out of microwave etc

Your friend needs to get a grip and teach her kids how to grow up to be adults .

World has gone mad, of course it's fine op! Your friend is being precious. She'd hate my house, 4.5 year old gets own cereal, does own milk, helps make own bed etc. Everyone is alive.

When they were 3-4, we left things on one fridge shelf and in one accessible drawer so they could help themselves to food on their own. By 5-6 they could get their own cereal or a snack or a drink on their own. Now they are 8 and 9 and they use the toaster and microwave and make whatever they want. They don’t use the stove unless we are nearby but otherwise they are very independent at feeding themselves when hungry or in the Mornings or an after school snack.