How long should we baby kids?

Question

What age sgould we finally cut the cord and say...I don't know, let them wipe their own asses and make their own PB&J's fr snacktime, put the straw in the jiucy juice themmselves? Let me know. For herein, lies my oracle of Delphi. My sacred fountain of parental wisdom called Yahoo Answers.

Answer 1

As soon as they show an interest to do it themselves. If you never coddle a child and keep them from doing things themselves, they will always strive to be independant.

Otherwise, speaking as someone who is married to an only child, its time to cut the frickin cord LONG before they become say, adults, and get married.

Answer 2

Ah three questions on fine motor skill development. All three tasks should be done independently by anyone over 5. While many parents worry about preschoolers and pencil grasp I always focused on the wipe your own butt thing as a thing of glory. My advice on the juice box and snack thing is to lay out what they need and don't watch. Be sure to teach them how to use a sponge to clean up after themselves. Kids love the repetition and also squeezing the water out of the sponge into the sink and that also builds the muscles in the hands they need.
Hope that helps.

Answer 3

When a child is old enough that his/her arm reaches his/her bottom they will be able to do that.

Certain snacks can be made by a young child 4-5 with supervision. A jar of jelly/peanut butter could fall and break and cause an injury. It is important to let kids become independant and slowly untie the apron strings.

Answer 4

Every child is different. It all depends on the child's individual level of maturity.
My daughter didn't start doing a whole lot on her own until she was 6/7ish. She could get her own drinks and wipe herself from the time she was like 3 but that was about it. Slowly til she was about 6-7 she added new tasks that she is capable of doing.
My eldest son, has been doing most everything except making his own sandwhiches ( he is trying to learn and he is 5) since about 4.
My youngest son is special. He doesn't understand the concept of much of anything past wiping himself. He is 4.

Answer 5

Most kids can't wait to do things for themselves, so I don't think you have a significant problem here. You need to teach them how to do it right, and then once they have learned, let them do it themselves. It's not an age, it's a stage of development. Little bitty hands are not well coordinated, and need time to develop that. As they learn it, let them do it.

Answer 6

well, i have a 3 year old, and i let her do these things when she wants too...but she doesnt always want too. my sister has 3 children and right around the age of 5 is when they really started wanting to do all of these things on their own, they are old enough to grasp the subject of bathing themselves and being clean....as for makin their own food...probably a little more down the road...let them try...then you can tell if they are ready or not.

Answer 7

6, 7, or 8

Answer 8

Teach them at age 2 1/2 and give them until they are 3 1/2 to master it. I have 3 grown sons.

Answer 9

Well ,start them of as soon as you think there getting cordinaited.
have them start helping you with things everyday.
when there little take there hands in yours and go through the motions of what ever it is ,while your doing that explain it all to them ,Dont get frustatied with them if they dont get it right away,Butt also dont let them pull one over on you.this iswere you have to read them,after some time let them try with hardly any help,so on and so forth.GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 10

you will know by the reactions you receive when you attempt to let them "wipe their own asses". each child is an individual with his or her own time frame for doing things on their own. good luck