What can your 7yr old DS do?

[BitchPeas]

DS turned 7 a few weeks ago. My DMother has told me to make him more independent as I'm due DC2 in April, but I thought he was independent what can your DS do compared to this list?

Put his dirty clothes in wash bin
Put his rubbish in the bin
Puts his dirty crockery/cutlery in sink
Makes a sandwich/chops with blunt knife/ stirs and measures ingredients when we cook together but doesn't do this alone.
Bathes himself
Brushes teeth
Picks his own underwear and pyjamas out (I do clothes as I like him to match )
I can leave him on a table in a restaurant/coffee shop while I go to pay and he will stay where he is.
Dresses himself apart from shoelaces

Apparently I should be letting him go into male changing rooms alone at swimming, and leaving him outside the women's toilets when we are somewhere busy ie shopping centre

I just don't feel like he is mature enough yet for either of these, and I'm worried about something happening to him in the above situations, as he will talk to anyone and is very excitable. I expect over the next year that will change but right now id rather take him in with me.

Also, I know he needs to start doing chores, what ones are ok for DC of this age. I'm feeling so clueless!

TIA

My son is six and does pretty much the same. He can tie laces but it takes him awhile as he has just learnt. I wouldnt dream of leaving him outside alone while I went to the toilet etc. But if he needs the toilet I send him into the males on his own and tell him to shout if he needs me....I dont care, if my boy needs me I will go into the mens loos haha. I would say that you are doing everything you should be doing for him and he sounds very independent to me!
My sons jobs are
Dust living room sides
Bring the dirty washing down in the mornings
MMake his bed
Tidy his bedroom including hoovering and dusting
And set the table.

My 3 and 4 year olds do all of that top list. Apart from I don't leave them when in bath, although they do wash etc alone.

They come in changing room with me still, but do wait outside toilets etc if out

Actually are you serious about some of those? Rubbish in bin? Would he say eat a banana then just walk off leaving skin for you to bin?

Art I read it as her son does put rubbish in the bin

My 7yr old ds pretty much does all you've listed. Although he rarely makes a sandwich, just goes through the cupboard sneakily for biscuits . He gets himself drinks, puts DVDs on, brushes teeth, gets dressed. He can tidy up but often I need to nag.

If we're in a restaurant not too far from the loo he goes on his own. When we go to buffet restaurant he happily helps himself etc. He will go to thc end of the road for me to post a letter.

My next step will be leaving him on his own in the house for 10 mins here and there. Won't be for a while.

I have a just-turned 8 year old. He can do everything on your list but he moans about it He tidies his toys away at night, empties his lunchbox, checks his school bag is ready for the next day and sets the table for dinner. He also puts his clean laundry away.

He will go into the male toilet alone at swimming lessons but I go in the changing cubicle with him (they are big enough for 2). Just recently I have left him in the car when going to the cashpoint or posting a letter. While he is very sensible I wouldn't be happy leaving him in a public place out of my sight - not yet anyway.

Art I meant he does all those things automatically without being asked/prompted/reminded etc.

Thanks everyone

OP for clarity, I'm relisting:

What OP's 7yo does:
Put his dirty clothes in wash bin
Put his rubbish in the bin
Puts his dirty crockery/cutlery in sink
Makes a sandwich/chops with blunt knife/ stirs and measures ingredients when we cook together but doesn't do this alone.
Bathes himself
Brushes teeth
Picks his own underwear and pyjamas out (I do clothes as I like him to match blush )
I can leave him on a table in a restaurant/coffee shop while I go to pay and he will stay where he is.
Dresses himself apart from shoelaces

What OP's DM thinks 7yo should also do:
Apparently I should be letting him go into male changing rooms alone at swimming, and leaving him outside the women's toilets when we are somewhere busy ie shopping centre

Fwiw, your top list is fine. DM's list has some things I'd be uncomfortable with.

My DS is almost 7, he does the things on your list and I do let h go into the male toilets alone but I hover outside in case he needs me. He also makes his own bed, sets the table and empties the dishwasher as his chores. I think a lot depends on the maturity of the individual child, DSS is only 10 months younger ThanDS but can't be left to do any of these jobs unsupervised as he gets distracted easily and is prone to wandering off.

DS does those and also makes his bed, draws his curtains and opens the window in the morning.

He reads to himself in bed now too. We still do story together but he likes to look at a book for 5-10mins by himself afterwards, which I've been encouraging as I think it's good for his reading skills and also independence as he knows that I trust him to read for a few minutes, then turn the light out.

He runs ahead when we talk to/from school and is allowed to cross roads (very quiet side roads) if I can see him. I don't allow him to go in male changing rooms by himself but have noticed him getting a couple of looks when he heads into the ladies with me so maybe that's next.

How do you think your DS will react to the new baby? Will he be helpful at fetching stuff for you? I imagine that'll be the most useful thing to teach him!

Our local pools have a 8 yr old age limit for children not being allowed in opposite sex changing room so something to plan for.

DD is 7 and when DH takes her to her lessons she insists on going into the ladies by herself, then afterwards she showers, washes her hair and gets changed and DH waits outside for her.