Kitchen Talk for August 25th

[Cindy18]

At what age do you/did you start letting your children do the dishes?

[KellZ09]

We start letting them help at 5.

[lalasmama2007]

My dd is 5 and she will help load and unload the dishwasher, but that's about it.

[confused0701]

For now it isn't anywhere in the near future!  Yes she 7 and could easily but can't because she is allergic to every single dish detergent there is!

[Sweetness88]

Start helping put up dishes(nothing glass) at age 4. Washing at 8, like silverware and cups. DD is almost 10 and she now washes everything except pops, heavy glass and knives.

[janitablue]

I don't consider you a mean mom you are a smart mom. You are teaching your children independence.

Quoting Eddy_G:

4 year olds can wash dishes but not pans (too heavy)

At 6 they were doing the pans too

at 8 or 9 they can dry dishes without dropping them I think.

So Yes, I'm a mean mom and my kids now do all the dishes - I'm now teaching them to cook too.

[janitablue]

My son is eight I don't think he is ready for washing dishes but anything is possible.

[momof754]

my kids each started at the age of six.

[TheBabyFactory4]

At age 4-5 they can empty the dishwasher. My 7-8 yo are putting their own dishes in the dishwasher. My 8yo has helped wash up things by hand if they don't go in dishwasher.

[TroyboysMom]

My son is 8, and he helps. He does not do them all, but he does help. He also puts things away when they come out of the dishwasher.

[Eddy_G]

Quoting janitablue:

I don't consider you a mean mom you are a smart mom. You are teaching your children independence.

Quoting Eddy_G:

4 year olds can wash dishes but not pans (too heavy)

At 6 they were doing the pans too

at 8 or 9 they can dry dishes without dropping them I think.

So Yes, I'm a mean mom and my kids now do all the dishes - I'm now teaching them to cook too.

Thank you.  Yes, I think I'm doing the right thing too but the kids think it is mean that they have to do chores when their friends at school do not.  But I want them to be ready.  

Whenever they choose to leave home, at least I will KNOW for real that they can both cook a meal and keep a flat clean and do laundry.  These life skills are not taught in schools but they should be.  Along with money management.