Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

When is a child old enough to answer the front door?

55 replies

PeachesMcLean · 04/04/2008 21:06

DS is 6 and is perfectly capable of opening the front door. I've often told him to go and open it, if I'm busy and then I'm not far behind him to see who it is.

We've had a fairly nasty incident recently with a neighbour and we don't want DS to answer the door anymore. I don't want to say "don't answer the door cos it might be the crazy woman again" because that surely is going to give him ideas and make him nervous. But we're having to go back on behaviour he's already got used to, and somehow we have to do that without making him aware that it's because of the crazy woman. IYSWIM.

Now, DH says that he wasn't allowed to open the door at all as a child. Doesn't say how old he was when he was allowed to, but clearly thinks we've done the wrong thing allowing DS to do it at all.

So, how old does a child have to be before you're happy to let him / her answer the front door?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

scanner · 04/04/2008 21:09

Tbh I don't let mine answer the door (they all can) unless I absolutely know who it is and even then I'm just behind them. I do have controlling tendencies though .

ChasingSquirrels · 04/04/2008 21:11

My 5yo answers the door (as you say I am thereabouts, and usually when it is someone I am expecting, or we have seen them arrive).

Completely understand why you wouldn't want to given the situation - does HE still want to?

Psychomum5 · 04/04/2008 21:12

I don;t get the chance to stop mine.....they all run too fast.

TBH tho, if I am ill and not able to catch them quickly enough to be there as they open the door then I lock it and put the key up high. would this be an option for you??

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

bossykate · 04/04/2008 21:12

i don't let my 6 yo answer the door and i get irritated (mildly) when friends let children of the same age answer door or phone.

bossykate · 04/04/2008 21:13

it's not sweet or clever.

seeker · 04/04/2008 21:15

Peaches's circumstances notwithstanding - why wouldn't a child answer the door as soon as they can reach the handle? Ditto telephone? [thick emoticon}

Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 04/04/2008 21:15

TBH if I just tell DS not to answer the door, he won't. He's a good lad. I don't really want to have to tell him not to, but if you all come along and say " Certainly not until the child is at least 22" then I'll feel better about it I guess.

ChasingSquirrels, he's quite relaxed about it now, cos I went into overdrive about not jumping every time the door was knocked, and showing him that we didn't need to be nervous. he's taken that on board and is quite relaxed about it again now...

OP posts:

rosealbie · 04/04/2008 21:17

I think the same seeker. My dc always answer the phone and ds who can reach the door will answer it but then I am always there anyway and if I was upstairs for example and heard the bell, i'd just say to wait for me. Can't see the problem.

bossykate · 04/04/2008 21:18

because i just don't want to do the whole "is your mummy there?" crapola. it's painful enough trying to talk to my own kids on the phone frankly!

ChasingSquirrels · 04/04/2008 21:18

glad he is ok about it.

Why on earth would it be sweet or clever? I let ds do it because it saves me having to do so!

bossykate · 04/04/2008 21:19

and it's not not not sweet or clever!

ok will leave now as must have pmt as have got into high dudgeon with about 4 different people today for no good reason.

bossykate · 04/04/2008 21:20

oh i've always thought people let their kids answer the phone because they thought it was sweet - honestly.

Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 04/04/2008 21:20

Can be jolly useful having a child who can answer the phone. DS just says "hello, who is it?" then finds me and hands the phone over, telling me who it is. The alternative is for him to shout "mummy, telephone" in a really unhelpful manner.

OP posts:

bossykate · 04/04/2008 21:21

ChasingSquirrels · 04/04/2008 21:21

pmsl. never thought of it as sweet

Psychomum5 · 04/04/2008 21:21

oh, mine only answer the phone if I am expecting a call an am stuck in the loo with a child wiping a bum or something similar.

if the phone rings tho, I get it......tis mine after all

bossykate · 04/04/2008 21:23

i mean i honestly thought they did it because they thought it would sound sweet. i didn't mean "honestly" in a "ffs" way.

i'll get me coat.

Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 04/04/2008 21:25

LOL bossykate, it's ok, but would hate to see you more than "mildly irritated" (your words) about something

OP posts:

RubyRioja · 04/04/2008 21:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LaComtesse · 04/04/2008 21:26

I have to keep the top bolt on as my dd flung the door open once before I could get there and I heard the postman calling out 'is Mummy there?'. Mind I did this once in my parents house at the precise time my sister came home from work so I had dd banging on the loo door to tell me whilst my sister cooled her heels on the doorstep . She was fine about it though - more than I'd have been.

I think it depends where you live and who is likely to be popping around plus the relative maturity of your child.

FunkyGoldStar · 04/04/2008 21:27

My DD (4) has just started answering the phone if I am mid-nappy change with DD2 or on the loo or something. If I'm free then she runs to it, picks it up and hands it to me. It is useful. I have no problem with it.

She answers the door if she has looked out of the window and knows who it is (I am always around). If she doesnt know who it is she tells me and we answer it together.

LynetteScavo · 04/04/2008 21:28

As a child I was taught to open the door WIDE and be firendly.

No one ever comes to our door.

bossykate · 04/04/2008 21:29

well there are practical reasons in our house too...

the loo door is rarely closed and if the front door is opened there would be a premium view...

i totally bit someone's head off today for giving my unsolicited parenting advice. i mean ok that is a grave solecism but i did give it the hoity toity "i'll be the judge of that" which was just a tad of an overreaction .

RubyRioja · 04/04/2008 21:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hoxtonchick · 04/04/2008 21:33

ds is 6 too, & opens the door. i am usually running upstairs at the same time, but he's faster. i would be more circumspect if we weren't expecting people. he's also great at answering the phone, thinks it's a treat, who am i stop him... ditto 2 year old dd & feeding the cat!

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread