How old were your dc when they could . . .

[Takver]

• chop up vegetables reasonably easily (things like carrots, onions, turnips rather than 'soft' veg like tomatoes)

• slice bread (straight & without mangling it)

• drain a hot pan of pasta or similar safely?

DS is 22 and still can't do any of that

Erk - that's not what I want to hear!

4 yr old step daughter chops carrots reasonably well. As in hasn't chopped off any fingers yet

OK, so we're talking a spread of ages here . . .

both mine can chop veg, they're 11 and 15 - not the next two though, lol

I think it varies. depending on when u let them and show them how to do it.

Mine are 6 and 8 and would let them chop some veg (that did not require too sharp a knife - so no onions). I wouldn't let them try the others for some years.

I am 33 and I cannot slice bread straight yet and often mangle. Apparently I can only be referred if I still can't do it when I'm 40....

I am 33 and I cannot slice bread straight yet and often mangle. Apparently I can only be referred if I still can't do it when I'm 40....

Evidently I cannot post correctly either.....

I am 35 and also am useless at slicing bread. Do occasionally wonder if this was contributory factor in H leaving me but on balance probably not

I am 41 and am rubbish at slicing bread. DH winces when he sees me trying.

I am 37 and not allowed near the bread.
DH is 40 and not allowed to strain the pasta (always tips it down the sink )
DS1 is 5 and is getting on for being OK to chop carrots, but I'd not let him loose on larger veg like turnips.

I can barely do those things, and I'm pushing 40

It varies- and it's not always the parents' fault either. Some children are very sensible and have great manual control, others less so.

yep I'm 30 and can't slice bread either!

I also can't slice fresh bread without squashing & mangling it - marginally better than DH though.

After sustaining numerous injuries whilst preparing swede I'm considering whether I should really be allowed near it with a sharp implement.....

I'm not allowed to slice bread either. Because what I do isn't slicing, it's torturing.

DD is 4 and can chop vegetables adequately. Boiling water is off limits until she's five much older.

I am too nervous to allow DD 4 a sharp knife, but suspect she would be fine - she is very tidy and orderly when chopping soft things (blunt knife) like mushrooms.
DSS could do all of these things very competently before senior school.
DSD now 16, probably can't do any of them! She mangles bread - I usually buy cut bread during the weeks they are with us to spare her the agony

Ds3 (8) and dd (11) have just chopped some carrots and peppers for me. Ds struggled with the peppers but he is left handed so I think he finds it hard to copy my (right handed) techniques, if that makes sense.

Re bread: ds2 (13) prides himself on his bread cutting skills, but ds1 (15) (another lefthander - is this a theme?) is hopeless. I think many adults lack the bread cutting skill tbh.

Draining a pan of hot pasta: oh god, I wouldn't let any of them anywhere near such a thing! But all but the 8 year old can pour boiling water from a kettle to make me a cup of tea.

I was away for an evening last week and DD announced she'd make dinner, and proposed pasta. DH instantly springs in to try to veto her dealing with pans of boiling water, whereat she went and pointed out that she'd be straining carrots and potatoes in food tech to make soup that day.

They really have to be able to chop and drain by the time they reach secondary school!

She's been able to cut carrots etc for a few years (can't remember when exactly) - TBH once you trust them with a sharp knife its easier than trying to use a blunt one. (and FWIW I reckon you can only cut tomatoes properly with a serrated knife otherwise they squish)

She won't try cutting bread though - you really do have to use a proper breadknife and its a bit big for her. DH tends to mangle it - left hander but main problem is he will try to do it on a plate rather than bothering to get the breadboard out - it does make difference.

lol@ Mockingbird's referral at age 40...

DS started peeling & chopping hard vegies at 8yo; DD is 9yo and still can't seem to do it safely/confidently.

I haven't tried to show him how to drain pasta, but I guess DS could reasonably do it now (rising 12yo). I know my friend's 13yo can confidently cook pasta as tea for everybody.

I am 44 & can't slice bread well! But I'd probably let my 9-10yo try it without supervision (after initial supervision period).

I am 67 and cannot cut a straight slice of bread though I can manage the other things :)

When I was 12/13 I was making roulades and cakes...I loved cooking. By 16, I remember making my family one night avocado and watercress soup, spinach and mushroom lasagne and peach tart...everything from scratch.

I am now 41 and I've not cooked a proper meal in about a year. .

OK, so I think the consensus here is that, firstly, I'm not going to let anyone from MN loose on my bread and that I clearly need to put dd into intensive bread cutting training now so that she doesn't face a lifetime of mangled loaves.

Its interesting though seeing the difference in hard-veg-chopping. DD (9 y/o) is super-cautious, and I had wondered whether she found it difficult simply because she was so wary with the knife, but I think maybe it is just that she isn't quite there yet.

She's very keen to cook proper meals (already does cakes) so I'm keen to encourage her!!! ATM I drain pans, but I'd wondered if I was being unreasonably cautious myself and should enourage her to try - she did drain some beans she'd cooked in the pressure cooker yesterday (with me supervising closely), but definitely found it a nervewracking experience.

Ah, and I forgot to ask the other question - what age is the MN consensus for doing proper washing up (pans and everything, rather than just a few plates) ???