What is the absolute youngest

[Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov]

They can come down and watch tv by themselves? I've a 5,2 and baby. I'm now realizing with each child I've added a loads of years to early wake ups.

Also, is it a gradual thing? Like it starts with them coming down and only waking you for breakfast and then one day they're old enough to do breakfast too? And then one day they just don't need you (actually that's also a distressing concept.... must be the hormones)

My twins were just turned 4ish. Obviously there is 2 of them so some safety in numbers (and they love to tell on each other so quite effective cross-policing) and they are pretty sensible.

It's been a total game changer.

Luckily, the first poster was wrong, although thankfully she admitted she didn't know yet.
By 9 they'll be making eggs on toast and walking to school. (As long as you've taught them how, of course if you don't, they won't).
Around 4 I think to watch tv, I liked to supervise eating though unless it was something like a banana.

Upon reflection 5 year old would probably do it and be ok now with tv for 30 mins but he shares with the 2 year old, and I wouldn't let them down together. So maybe another 2 years for them, and then maybe a year or two for the baby. Ok this is looking good. Maybe the baby will surprise us all and become a late riser!

My 9,7,5, 3 are allowed their kindles on a weekend, so they tend to just all pile into one bedroom and do that for an hour or so. I'd be happy for them to be downstairs on their own if they wanted. 7 and 9 are perfectly capable of getting their own breakfast, but there's not a chance they actually would 🙄

I think it depends on the child; my 4 year old wouldn’t actually want to be downstairs by herself but I wouldn’t mind her sitting in bed with her tablet but not downstairs

6 and 8 year old boys here get up when they want, usually 7am go down get a drink and watch TV/play. I usually get up at 9ish but have been known to stretch to 10 on rare occasion! Every now and again I can hear them arguing and end up going down early but nothing major ever happened, they've been doing this for a couple of years now. It's heaven

I don't think I beat my parents downstairs for my entire childhood! I was definitely getting up later than them as a teen too, though that was because I didn't want to get up.

Pretty sure it was a rule when I was a kid that I wasn't allowed downstairs until they were up. Either they were early risers or my sister and I slept late. 🤷

I'd probably say it depends on your kid as to what is safe. My eldest kid is 3 and I wouldn't want her downstairs by herself while I was asleep. Not sure when that'll start feeling OK.

Mine started coming down and making cereal from age 6. Now at almost 9 they can make me tea and toast and deliver it to me in bed 😁

If the 5yo can get up quietly and slip out without waking the 2yo then let them

About 5. My 9 year old used to be good at getting himself some breakfast, now the novelty has worn off I find him lazing on the couch, watching cartoons and waiting for me to bring it.

zizl what if you don't bring it?

waiting hand and foot on kids isn't actually good parenting is it?

I've got memories of being maybe 6 or 7 watching Saturday morning TV before my mum and dad were up. There are probably photos of me still in my PJs.

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme

zizl what if you don't bring it?

waiting hand and foot on kids isn't actually good parenting is it?

That's a bit harsh, making breakfast is bad parenting now? I get up and make my own breakfast so make some for my child at the same time... he grabs an apple or banana if he's hungry before that.

DD was 4 or 5 when she started happily just watching a bit of tv in the morning before we woke up. We set some rules like not messing about in the kitchen and we made sure she knew to help herself to a bit of fruit from the fruit bowl if she was hungry.

Mine are 6 & 4, I also have a baby. They can get themselves up, dressed, breakfast etc etc. They can also make themselves a sandwich for lunch, load the dishwasher, get their own drinks, clear up.

There’s absolutely no way I’d be waiting until they were 9 or 10! I was cooking breakfasts at that age!

My 4 year old can get herself a glass of milk from fridge, cereal from cupboard, fruit from the bowl. She can't turn on TV but will play with toys until we come down.

Our 6 year old twins can navigate the TV very well. They can't go downstairs without us as the house alarm is on but they have a TV upstairs too which the eldest 2 can reach the remote for (15&10). They usually entertain themselves for an hour then tell me they want breakfast. They can't feed themselves as the cereal is out of reach for all but the eldest and that's the way I like it because they would fill the bowl too high then waste most of it.

zizl sorry, that did sound harsh! Of course making breakfast isn't bad parenting. Its more that your post brought to mind various children I know in my extended family who do expect to be waited on and who's parents actively discourage them from becoming competent and independent! Its difficult to understand why they do this! One family have produced a late teen who before the pandemic wouldn't take any form of public transport nor take driving lessons, and around the house wouldn't so so much as put her own laundry away...

We have 5 atm and another due August

I actually remember a conversation at university about Saturday morning routines and whether parents left out breakfast, you were allowed to watch TV etc. I remember someone pointing out that this was surely to facilitate the parents doing it and everyone being appalled, with that special sort of prudishness teenagers reserve for their parents.

Now that I actually have small children the revelation has come full circle - they probably really were just sleeping because they were so tired!

Mine are 12, 10 and 8 and they have been getting up and going downstairs while I lie in for at least a couple of years if not longer.

Mine knew not to go downstairs at that age. Imo having children as young as 4 roaming around downstairs unsupervised while you're asleep in bed isn't much different to leaving them home alone - which I'm assuming none of you would do! There is potential for things to go wrong and if you're asleep how would you know until it was too late?

This comes from a place of my brother (4 at the time) getting up at 6am once and letting himself out of the front door while my parents slept, because he heard the dustbin men and wanted to see the wagon. A second time he was he got up he was helping himself to juice (after climbing on to the kitchen counter!), spilled the whole bottle and managed to short circuit the kitchen sockets. I know it's anecdotal but it's enough for me to be a bit triggered by small children being unsupervised downstairs while parents are in bed!

Mine were 8 before I felt comfortable with them being up and about without me.

A better counter to that @KurtWilde would be to have a front door a 4 year old can't unlock and to tell them they're not allowed to pour juice. Rather than not allow them to watch tv alone until they're 8.

My dc are 5 and 8. If it’s a weekend and they are up before me they are fine and play or watch tv...I get up and make breakfast for them and sometimes will go back to bed for a little bit if it’s really early. My house is small and I’m above the living room so can hear them and they get me if they need me or want something. I’d give it a year or so before my eldest dc makes breakfast for himself like toast or cereal.

@arethereanyleftatall

A better counter to that *@KurtWilde* would be to have a front door a 4 year old can't unlock and to tell them they're not allowed to pour juice. Rather than not allow them to watch tv alone until they're 8.

You can't forsee and prevent every accident though. And kids don't always do as they're told. Only takes a lapse in judgement from a young child to lead to some pratting around and you've got an accident on your hands. Particularly if they've got a sibling with them- increases the potential for accidents exponentially.