Do you let your 5 year old or younger use the kettle to make hot drinks?

[nappyaddict]

Is it just me or is it too young?

fair enough, strudelface, not getting at you personally. I am sure your 10yo is fine.

I just remembered that dd mentioned how difficult the first science lessons in Year 7 were because so many of her friends were terrified of boiling things. And it did occur that parents could have done something about preparing them.

(for my own dd, the occasion of making me a cup of tea has arisen )

My dd is 8 and has just recently made her first cup of hot choc. I would let her use the kettle with adult supervision.

when my son was five he saw an occupational therapist for a while. she said he could start making tea!

I think the Brownies have got the right idea there, for their badge.

I do think by 11 kids should be able to handle things like tea and toast, beans on toast, heating up cans of soup and so on, with a parent keeping a discreet eye on the hot stuff.

We had one student arrive here at Cambridge who thought to heat baked beans you took the lid off and then stood the can on the gas flame. He had never heated up baked beans whilst living at home.

I rest my case.

Too young (and I practically NEVER say that!) Mine start using the kettle under close supervision at about 8.

No way!

I let mt 3 year old do stirring on the hob etc but NO WAY would my 6 year old be allowed to use a kettle!

I scald myself far too regulalrly...approx once per year i think

Having done a placement on a burns unit, where a boy needed skin grafts by being put in a bath that was too hot, I would say it is WAY too young.

Ds1, who is 8 and v sensible, has just started filling the kettle and switching the button on, but is not allowed near it when it is hot. I burned my ladybits badly once by tipping a boiling mug of tea into my lap so I am untra careful about hot water.

We don't use an electric kettle, so there's no way the younger DCs are allowed to use it. DS1 is, but he's 10 and is quite capable of making himself a cup of tea. DD who is 5, is allowed to turn the gas off when it whistles (and is also allowed to make popcorn in the microwave, but only with me in the kitchen watching)

I used to make tea and coffee for my parents, but it definitely wasn't until I was 8 or so.

Oh, the shame. DS1 is actually 11 (in my defence he's only been 11 for 4 days!)

Serenity - don't worry, I wrote that ds1 is 7, but he's been 8 for over a month. I think I just want to keep him at 7....

wilbur.

After seeing my BFs 15yo groping his girlfriend at the weekend (I changed his nappies! I remember her doing the pg test and running around the house yelling!) I think I'd like a break from growing up too.

Oh well, my ds's will NEVER be 15, so that's ok.

[sticks head firmly in sandpit]

no, I wouldn't.

far too young.

When I was 9 or 10 I had to make a cup of tea safely for a Brownies badge, I also remember learning loads of other things about safety in the home.

Too young in my view.

I was not allowed to use a kettle before I was 11....although my parents did not have a problem with me driving a tractor pulling heavy loads on rough ground up and down hills.

My dd is 8 and yesterday I taught her to make a cup of tea for the very first time- although I was stood next to her the whole time to supervise - she was extremely proud of herself - as was I [proud mum emoticon]

5 is too young. I think I taught the boys to make a cup of coffee when they were 7 or 8.

As long as you teach them properly, and make sure the kettle has only one cup's worth of water in, they should be fine.

I think the main problems for a 5 yr-old are the lack of height and lack of strength/control.

def too young, DD is 4 loves a cup of tea in the morning, but wouldn't let her make it.

Way too young.

I haven't let my 9yo use the kettle yet!

Is this a serious question?

No way. Why would you want a 5yo handling boiling water ?!

no my 12 yr old does and so of course does my teenager, but my 10 yr old doesnt yet

na says she feels its too young as well, i assume she asks because she knows someone who does let their 5 yr old use a kettle and doesnt think it safe

I will let my just nine year old make hot chocolate. I would not have let my 11 year old at 8/9 because she is dyspraxic and couldn't have done it safely. My six year old - no way! Five is crazy. Why would a five year old have any reason to use a kettle anyway?