Things a kid should know by 8-9

[Anonymous]

That they are loved unconditionally.

That they belong.

[Anonymous]

Their address and phone numbers for their parents and other important adults—I’m always surprised how many kids don’t know this!

I think the bus lines is too much for that age. Mine started with public buses at 11 or 12.
I also think the mac & cheese is iffy. Depending on your kitchen setup and how tall/strong the kid is, draining boiling water for pasta is challenging for a kid. Scale it all up and see how safe it would be for you!

Basic knife skills, but I admit I’ lacking on this.
Fire safety skills and maybe how to start one
How to make a polite phone call (helllo, this is larlo. May I please speak with johnny? Okay, coukd you olease tell him I called? Thank you.”)

[Anonymous]

My elementary schooler is supposed to do their own laundry? I didn’t until college and I turned out just fine.

[Anonymous]

I like a lot of these!

Important for my family:

How to write a letter and address and stamp an envelope and drop in the mailbox

How to cook eggs hard boiled, scrambled, and fried

How to plan a balanced meal

How to prepare own lunch and breakfast and a family dinner once a week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My elementary schooler is supposed to do their own laundry? I didn’t until college and I turned out just fine.

Same. This thread is pretty fakey/tryhard.

[Anonymous]

How to read a basic map
Mom and dad's phone numbers by heart
How to care for a family pet

[Anonymous]

OP back again. Thanks all for the awesome suggestions!

I think our main list will be:
Memorizing our phone numbers. He still gets tripped up
Using a microwave (he's actually asked for this one)
Making a sandwich beyond a PB&J
Basic knife safety
Reading nutrition labels

This thread has made me feel pretty good that we've been keeping him on track with what he should know! Oddly enough the kid loves to vacuum and do a basic cleaning of his bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My elementary schooler is supposed to do their own laundry? I didn’t until college and I turned out just fine.

Same. This thread is pretty fakey/tryhard.

Laundry is so easy, though??

It's one of the easiest chores nowadays, if you have modern machines.

-Take your stuff (or everyone's) to the washing machine (probably don't even need to sort by color). May need to know what can't be put in machine.
-Put in detergent, press a button or two (learn which).
-Swing by in an hour and throw in dryer, press a button or two (learn which).
-Take out, bring to room, fold and put away

??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My elementary schooler is supposed to do their own laundry? I didn’t until college and I turned out just fine.

Same. This thread is pretty fakey/tryhard.

Laundry is so easy, though??

It's one of the easiest chores nowadays, if you have modern machines.

-Take your stuff (or everyone's) to the washing machine (probably don't even need to sort by color). May need to know what can't be put in machine.
-Put in detergent, press a button or two (learn which).
-Swing by in an hour and throw in dryer, press a button or two (learn which).
-Take out, bring to room, fold and put away

??

Also- once they start doing it for themselves you don’t have to do it for them.

It is wondrously freeing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My elementary schooler is supposed to do their own laundry? I didn’t until college and I turned out just fine.

Same. This thread is pretty fakey/tryhard.

If you didn't do it, who did it for you? Your parents, your family maid? Knowing how to achieve clean clothes in your closet is a life skill that is no one else's responsibility except your own. Unless having "help" is a permanent situation for your child, in which case most of this thread won't apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My elementary schooler is supposed to do their own laundry? I didn’t until college and I turned out just fine.

Same. This thread is pretty fakey/tryhard.

If you didn't do it, who did it for you? Your parents, your family maid? Knowing how to achieve clean clothes in your closet is a life skill that is no one else's responsibility except your own. Unless having "help" is a permanent situation for your child, in which case most of this thread won't apply.

My parents. I do have the life skill of doing laundry, as I mentioned. You can’t read very well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My elementary schooler is supposed to do their own laundry? I didn’t until college and I turned out just fine.

Same. This thread is pretty fakey/tryhard.

Laundry is so easy, though??

It's one of the easiest chores nowadays, if you have modern machines.

-Take your stuff (or everyone's) to the washing machine (probably don't even need to sort by color). May need to know what can't be put in machine.
-Put in detergent, press a button or two (learn which).
-Swing by in an hour and throw in dryer, press a button or two (learn which).
-Take out, bring to room, fold and put away

??

I'm a little iffy about some of the suggestions here but my five year old can do laundry and run the dishwasher. This seems like a weird one to be phased by.

[Anonymous]

I taught my kids their address and phone number by making it into a song. They can still recite it today and they are in their late 20’s. Practiced in the car.

Me: Where do you you live?
Them: 520 Hill Street, Richmond, Virginia
Me: What is your phone number?
Them: 826 451-XXXX

I used to wonder if a police officer found them, would he have to know the song to get the information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My elementary schooler is supposed to do their own laundry? I didn’t until college and I turned out just fine.

Same. This thread is pretty fakey/tryhard.

Really? This is what seems fake and try hard to you? Granted I'm a 90's ki, but my siblings and I were all taught laundry at 8 . I remember going to college and being amazed there were people who were 17/18/19 years old and had no clue how to work a machine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My elementary schooler is supposed to do their own laundry? I didn’t until college and I turned out just fine.

Same. This thread is pretty fakey/tryhard.

Laundry is so easy, though??

It's one of the easiest chores nowadays, if you have modern machines.

-Take your stuff (or everyone's) to the washing machine (probably don't even need to sort by color). May need to know what can't be put in machine.
-Put in detergent, press a button or two (learn which).
-Swing by in an hour and throw in dryer, press a button or two (learn which).
-Take out, bring to room, fold and put away

??

I'm a little iffy about some of the suggestions here but my five year old can do laundry and run the dishwasher. This seems like a weird one to be phased by.

It's funny how our backgrounds can color our opinions on things. original pps think have an 8 your old do laundry is fake or over the top. You see it as fine, but think other things are iffy. Based on my upbringing I find alot of these suggestions babyish.