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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

At what age is it reasonable to expect DD to start ironing her own clothes?

38 replies

Neverenoughhandbags · 11/09/2007 12:40

I do all the washing and folding-she will help if nagged, but I think DD14 and DD12 need to start doing their own ironing and putting away.Of course if I aks them to do anything you'd think I was asking them to donate a kidney-so what age is reasonable please?

OP posts:
seeker · 11/09/2007 12:41

Dd is just starting to do some of hers - she's 11

kittylouise · 11/09/2007 12:43

Same as seeker, dd is 11 and can iron her own stuff when asked.

Original poster
Neverenoughhandbags · 11/09/2007 12:44

Thanks seeker, have sneeking suspicion I might be lagging behind.....

OP posts:
mumblechum · 11/09/2007 13:18

My ds is just 13 and just started doing the odd thing. Don't think I could get him to do all of it, though.

I remember my mum always moaning on about the fact that her friend's daughters did their own ironing, but she still did mine anyway.

If you want it doing, you'll have to put your foot down and just leave it in a pile for them.

Tommy · 11/09/2007 13:22

I started doing mine at 11.

I am one of six children and my Mum went on ironing stike when she ironed about 30 shirts one evening! She even got my younger brother to iron all the hankies (he was 7!)

I don't think she has ironed anything for me since

Original poster
Neverenoughhandbags · 11/09/2007 15:40

Hmm yes I was one of 7-so I'm sure I started at about 12. Mumblechum I'm sure you are right-but can I stand seeing it pile up waiting to be ironed???

OP posts:
belgo · 11/09/2007 15:41

I started ironing simple items of clothes at this age - T-shirts, hankies etc. I actually enjoyed it - still do.

poohtwo · 07/11/2007 22:57

Ha! My DD started at 11 when she moved to secondary school, then progressed to just getting the iron and the ironing board out so I'd think she's ironed her school clothes, now she doesn't even pretend - goes out with them unironed

hanaflower · 07/11/2007 23:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

zippitippitoes · 07/11/2007 23:05

gosh i started about 4 with hankies

pukkapatch · 07/11/2007 23:07

i know my cousin did the family ironing at around age 11. i remember coz i am a year older thna her, and had nevver in my life at that point ironed my dad's shirts before.! however, she was eldest dc, whilst i was and still am dc2.
ds, aged 9 was ironing his own scouts tie. he has been known to iron his own t shirts. rather badly, but hey, i m not going to stop him at 14, they are well and truly old enough to be doing it all.

pukkapatch · 07/11/2007 23:09

actulaly, i can probly count on one hadn the number of times i have ironed dads shirts at the grand old age of 35.

dd666 · 07/11/2007 23:09

i was still in little school when i started 9 ish

Sixer · 07/11/2007 23:11

Taking turns washing and drying dishes from 6. Ironing only Dads shirt for the next day from 7/8. I continued ironing dads shirt for the next day until 17/18. (he was after all giving me a lift to work). As for the dishes, yes i broke quite a few, but coming from a family with 3 DB's we had to have our chores, they started early, we earnt double our age in pocket money. Not bad eh... washing up done for 14p per week? I really do think chores you have to start from an early age. Yes they'll hate it and you too but they won't forget their importance in life, and lesson learnt.

Sixer · 07/11/2007 23:15

I think mum and dad gained confidence in me when i could make a cup of tea (supervised) at Brownies at the age of 7. My parents always said "7 is the age of reasoning". Hope that make sence. (it didn't when i was 7)

brightwell · 08/11/2007 01:10

Dd 13 has been doing ironing for a couple of years, started with simple things.... tea towels,pillow cases and has gradually progressed. The only thing she doesn't do is her school shirts & my uniforms. Yes occaisionally and for extra pocket money she'll help out with the ironing. Ds 9 is also following in her footsteps and will do tea towels, pillows slips & t-shirts.

seeker · 08/11/2007 06:12

Trouble is that I don't iron any of the sort of things that ar easy to learn on, like tea towels or pillowcases, so dd had to start straigt in with her school shirts!

Buda · 08/11/2007 06:53

I would say 11 or 12. My mum used to pay me to do the ironing from about then.

I hated just being stood in the kitchen doing it but then used to do it in front of the TV and that made it better.

Bouncingturtle · 08/11/2007 07:06

I don't think I ironed my own clothes until I moved out when I was 18! But then my mum is one of those strange people who LIKES ironing
I did help unload washing machine, hang clothes up on line, bring it in and fold and then put away ironed clothes from about 11-12.

bealcain · 08/11/2007 07:51

Am sorry to say here that i'm 20 with 2dc and have never picked up an iron in my life. when i was at home my dad always did it, and now i've got beter things to do than iron clothes that are only going to crease by wearing anyway.

we always helped put clothes away and i remember my sister getting paid when she was 13 for doing the ironing!

bealcain · 08/11/2007 07:55

Sixer - agree about the learning the important lesons. i moved str8 in wit df when i was 18 having moved dtr8 from mums and had never been taught how to run a house or anything, was very hard. esp. with a 2month old.....my kids will start young and thank me for it!

BandofMothers · 08/11/2007 07:56

I used to iron my clothes before I went out so at the very oldest 14 or 15. As soon as they are sensible enough not to burn themselves.

roisin · 08/11/2007 07:59

DSs have always put their own laundry away.

DS1 can iron teatowels and hankies. I wanted him to learn to do shirts before he started secondary school, but he finds it very difficult whenever he's had a go.

Does anyone have any tips for learning shirt ironing?

Pixiefish · 08/11/2007 08:02

We had to iron generally rather than just our own clothes. far better imo as it gives a sense of responsibility and co- living. same as we had to hoover the whole house if that was our job that week rather than just our bedrooms.

Started when we were teenagers so 13

laura032004 · 08/11/2007 08:03

I started boarding school at 12. There were some 11 year olds there. We were all meant to iron our own school uniform. I hated doing it - especially the box pleat skirt!

Had been ironing bits at home for a while before that.

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