Your kids in the morning

[Thatweirdbitbeforenewyear]

What does it look like, the morning routine?

Our Dd is 5,5 and very wilful & independent
We previously had a baby gate at the top of the stairs and when she woke she would read, play quietly on her tablet etc until I or Dh got up with her and went downstairs with her and made breakfast etc
A while ago she learnt to unlock the gate (it did seem she was getting too old to have a gate) of course, she’d be off downstairs and I said she has to wait for us etc. She wakes quite early now and gets bored waiting. Do you let your dc go downstairs alone? If so, at what age? She tends to play quietly or watch tv, she sometimes gets her own breakfast or waits
I can remember doing the same with my older brother when we were kids and my parents were still asleep upstairs with my baby sister
Is this ok or a no no 😬
What are your mornings like?

What are you worried about happening?

If all she’s doing is watching tv (and you have appropriate locks to prevent her accessing inappropriate channels) and eating breakfast (which is presumably something like a brioche and a sports bottle of water not anything hot or messy) then it sounds perfectly fine for her to do that by herself. Mine were allowed downstairs alone from about age 4 - we were never completely fast asleep once they were up anyway, just dozing, so I’d have heard if there was a problem.

You do have to expect to get out of bed reasonably early with children though, it’s not fair to make her wait for hours for you to get up.

@Rudolphtherednoseddog Not lay in bed for hours 😂just not straightaway as soon as she wakes at 6-6.30 sometimes
I just wanted to see if this was a normal thing to do and ok really

I used to do it as a young child. Would get myself drink and breakfast and either play or read. Don’t remember ever being put out by my parents being asleep for longer. Actually, quite liked being alone in the mornings and still do.
My kid is 14 now so can’t help with the viewpoint as a parent of a young one, sorry

I actually don’t let my kids downstairs alone, so they can play in their room until I get up but they are so noisy they wake me and I’ll get up and do their breakfast around 7. I honestly don’t trust them because they are quite immature for their ages and might try something stupid like putting the kettle on or trying to use the toaster. They are both under 10 but older then your DD.

Yes I let my kids age 6&4 downstairs for half an hour alone while I wake up

I always got up when my kids got up at that age. I just felt it was the right thing to do, and not leave them to fend for themselves.

My oldest two used to go downstairs and play in the morning. They were awake by 6 so I used to let them play for around 45 minutes and then get up. They were around 4 and 6 at the time.
I wouldn't allow DS to do this. He, has learning difficulties and I always felt it was okay because my oldest two were downstairs together but he'd be on his own.
I guess it depends. If she's happy and safe then I can't see a problem.

DD1 is 4.5 and stays in her room playing until her gro clock "wakes up" at 7am. After this she is allowed to come in to us. By this point we're often awake because of DD2 (18 months) anyway.

DD1 is not allowed downstairs because she'd be down ridiculously early some days.

Mine are 4 and 7. They have to stay in bed until 7, then can go downstairs. The 7 year old will sort breakfast for them both and they watch tv. Often gets us an extra hour in bed on the weekend!

If my DD 4 wakes before 6:30 (my normal get up time) I put the tv in our room on and she watched tv for max half an hour in my bed while I dose and wake up

Mine had a digital clock and knew what a 7 looked like, they stayed in their bedrooms until the first number was 7. They did colouring or read books if they woke before then.

They were probably around that age when I showed them how to make cereal and put a film on. Total game changer for lie ins!

At 5yrs old, unless she’s staying in her room, I think you need to get up with your kid, to be honest.

If you're asleep I don't think she should be downstairs alone.

I'm pretty laid back but wouldn't want a 5 year old alone downstairs. It's fine if you are awake but too young when you are asleep.

Staying in bed or room fine.

Yes from five or so DC were let downstairs by their selves. They used to come in for a cuddle first so I was awake and knew they were downstairs and could doze but wasn’t totally asleep. Used to leave some water out and a brioche or similar to tide them over.

Small one up and sorted, little fuss and does as is asked.
Teenagers has always been and still is a total and utter nightmare.

So it runs smoothly until the 8th time I shout for him to get up and then leave the house hoping he has.

I am ott anxious but I wouldn't let a young child make and eat breakfast without an adult awake at least, I'd be worried about choking which we know can happen at any age.

Well quite @haveyougotamin . At 5-6 I expect a child to be no more likely to
choke than an older child, and I don’t supervise my 12 year old eating.

From about that age DD would head downstairs and watch tv. We have parental controls on everything so she could only watch age appropriate shows. We'd put out some breakfast options on the table ready for her to help herself to cereal, fruit or a pastry.

She's 9 now, so survived it and now she makes herself scrambled eggs or porridge or toast.

DD has always been an early riser, 5.30am-6am is the latest we ever get, my alarm is set for 6.20am so she's usually up for about an hour before I zombie walk downstairs.

I was wondering this today actually. DS is a bit younger - 4.5 - but still labours under the misapprehension that if his bedroom door is closed, he's unable to leave his bed. He will wake up and sing to himself for ages but he won't actually get up until one of us comes and gets him (normally because he starts shouting for us). At some point, he's going to realise that he can just get up and open the door and I'm not sure what we'll do then. My main concern about him going downstairs by himself is that he'd not bother to have a wee first thing which is what we make him do.

My daughter (6) is scared of being alone so definitely wouldn’t go downstairs by herself, the minute she wakes up she’s in my room. I would worry she would end up watching something she shouldn’t on the news or another channel if she turned the TV on. I’m not sure how parental controls stop them watching BBC 1 etc?

Eeeekk. DS IS 2. He goes down and plays with toys and watches tv for 45 mins while I get ready and get the baby ready. Then I come down , we have breakfast and we go out for the day. I’ve been doing this since he was 20 months !!!!! He’s never had any issues .

Just beware of choking if they are eating without an adult present, as it is silent and you wouldn't know about it if your child was not in view.

I would happily let child downstairs to watch TV or play.

My youngest is 9 (almost 10) but I think he’s been going downstairs alone since around the time of the lockdowns, so when he was 6. My eldest (5 years older, so now 15) is usually the first up in the household though, as the only naturally early riser, so she’s usually about before he is. She doesn’t get him breakfast though- I leave stuff out if it’s a weekend but often he’ll choose to wait a while for me.

I was ill with Covid as we went into the first lockdown so I think that’s when if first didn’t get up as soon as my youngest was up.

Editing to add - I’m a single parent which is why I’m not talking about another adult in the house!

About 3 1/2 ish mine knew how to got downstairs , work the TV, get a bowl of cereal and chill out. I'd typically come downstairs to find her lying on the sofa, watching TV or TV on in the background while she built Playmobil worlds. She knew that if she was sad, scared or sick to come and get me, she rarely did.