At what age do you teach your kids....?

Question

1.) How to cook.
2.) Laundry & Ironing.
3.) How to balance a check book

Thanks for your input :-)

Answer 1

Well, it depends on what level you mean...
1.) Cooking-from the time my kids were toddlers I let them help me cook. (I.E.-helped baked cookies, help peel a potato w/butter knife, help set the table, help hand me things, ect.) Now, as far as using the stove, I would say when they are tall enough to reach the stove comfortably and be responsible w/it....maybe pre-teenish, about 11/12. But smaller kids love using microwaves, so I get things that my kids can independantly "cook" in the microwave.

2.) Laundry-again, as toddlers they help carry things and fold things or hand me the clothes to put in the washer or in the dryer. To do it completely solo and deal w/detergents and all that, I would again say about pre-teenish, maybe about 11/12.

3.) Check Book-well, when ever they can do the math and understand the value of money, and understand about banks. I still say about pre-teenish, about 11.

Honestly, it all depends on the child, everyone learns at different paces, everyone matures at different levels, and everyone handles responsibilities differently. One child may be 11, a quick learner and responsible, while another may be 11, a slow learner and irresponsible. Therefore, between the two 11 year olds, you may have one learning to cook and not the other, as the other may hurt they self cooking or may be hazardous. In the long run, kids will let you know...they will show interest in the topic, they will put forth efforts in learning, or you'll see them just pick it up and start doing it. This is exactly why I love parenting...to see the difference between all my daughters and watch them all grow and go through different phases...soooooo interesting to see how different siblings can be! Good Luck w/your little ones and God Bless!

Answer 2

Early

I knew the very basics of cooking - I could make waffles, pancakes, scrambled eggs, bake a cake - by the time I was eight. We had a lot going on, and due to my parents taking in my 3 cousins at that time, I was doing my own laundry by eight as well. I learned to iron at about 10.

I learned to write a check when I was 9. I learned to balance a checkbook when I was about 11 or 12.

Answer 3

As for cooking start them out around 10 or 11 with the simple toast or microwave entrees.Gradually move them up until they are around 15 then have them to cook(assist) dinners.
Laundry and all associated items should begine about 12.
The check book around the same thing.Usee play money to help them then when they receive an increased allowance teach them to budget and when they geta job they will be more respectful with their money.

Answer 4

well i didnt learn how to use a washing machine until i was about 13, but i'd say a good time for cooking and laundry would be 11 or 12. balancing a check book might be a year or two after :P

Answer 5

I would really wait on the ironing until they are teenagers. Simple cooking - lunch-type - and laundry,i would start teaching around 9 through 11,but by late grade school they should be capable of doing their own laundry and making a simple meal without burning the house down.

Answer 6

kids can learn to cook at a very early age in daycare actually,
they can learn to dip out flour,sugar,add water all but turn on heat you know....logical things they will need help measuring but they all love to make things!

laundry and ironing can be the same...begin to teach them to make different loads of laundry...like the whites and the colors to begin with...again you still need to show them how to measure and pour...just get them started with you when they are like 2 or 3 and have them help you each time you cook and do laundry and iron ...sooner they grasp hold of the concept the sooner they will do it on their own.
to balance a checkbook is mainly knowing they can add and subtract correctly and have a desire to learn to manage their money, i was not taught to write out a check untill i was in 8th grade but then i am 50 yrs too....but i wish i had been taught better and had a longer education of it

Answer 7

11

Answer 8

Mine were helping in the kitchen around 8.
They started doing their own laundry the moment they stoped letting me pick out their clothes, around 11ish ironing the same time.
I opened a checking acount for my daughter at 16 and taught her how to balance at that time.

Answer 9

seeing that I tried this with my 19 yr and it still did not take I am starting with my 5 year old right now. He stands next to me on a chair and knows when certain food needs to be stirred. His mom teaching him about the laundry. We have not decided when to teach him about a check book. Of course all this is in between teaching him to read and write and of course he has to have his wrestling bouts with dad.

Answer 10

i learned to cook when i was 9, i've been doing my own laundry since i wasa 13, and i've known how to balance a checkbook since about 14 or so. (my wife and i can't have kids, so applied this question to myself)