At what age (or grade) did your child start packing their own lunch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Probably never. I never did until I was in college. My father found it easier to just prepare everything himself in the morning. I never had chores either. And yet, as soon as I was on my own, I never had any trouble doing everything myself, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. It's laughable how people on DCUM fall all over themselves trying to have the youngest kids doing chores and being independent, when it really doesn't make any difference in the end when they're adults.

Hah, same here. I never really had any chores except for helping dry the pots and pans after dinner. I am fully capable of getting everything done now and had no problem transitioning into adulthood. My husband, on the other hand, had a ton of chores and he is terrible when it comes to responsibility around the house. My kids are in 5th and 3rd and I still pack their lunches.

I can join this camp, but I will critique adding that I can't say it didn't impca me in ohter ways, e.g self-confidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Probably never. I never did until I was in college. My father found it easier to just prepare everything himself in the morning. I never had chores either. And yet, as soon as I was on my own, I never had any trouble doing everything myself, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. It's laughable how people on DCUM fall all over themselves trying to have the youngest kids doing chores and being independent, when it really doesn't make any difference in the end when they're adults.

Hah, same here. I never really had any chores except for helping dry the pots and pans after dinner. I am fully capable of getting everything done now and had no problem transitioning into adulthood. My husband, on the other hand, had a ton of chores and he is terrible when it comes to responsibility around the house. My kids are in 5th and 3rd and I still pack their lunches.

I can join this camp, but I will critique adding that I can't say it didn't impca me in ohter ways, e.g self-confidence.

Quoting myself- clearly not making my lunch daily as a child wouldn't have resulted in terrible depression or anything, but what I mean is that - at least from the parental perspective- there are advantages to a child knowing in micro-ways that "I can do it myself." See Montessori's popularity. And I DID have low confidence as a child and in some ways now, and although a number of things were involved in this that are larger than packing a lunch, you have to wonder.

[Anonymous]

My middle schooler sometimes makes their own lunch but they are in virtual. Otherwise, I'd probably pack it.

[Anonymous]

7th. I have to check it, though. Otherwise it winds up being a yogurt, a fruit cup, and a ton of junk food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just always did it together

Sort of this for my 6th grader. 5th grade she was home all year but while in virtual she usually made a sandwich and fed herself at lunchtime. Now we collectively prep breakfast and lunch together. It only takes a few minutes, and is time to talk while we prep and she eats.

[Anonymous]

Preschool, but with oversight and assistance. Gradually they worked way up to being totally independent. We taught them about nutrition along the way and how to pack an environmentally-conscious lunch. At this point I don’t think they’d want us making their lunches. There is less waste this way and more ownership over food choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Probably never. I never did until I was in college. My father found it easier to just prepare everything himself in the morning. I never had chores either. And yet, as soon as I was on my own, I never had any trouble doing everything myself, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. It's laughable how people on DCUM fall all over themselves trying to have the youngest kids doing chores and being independent, when it really doesn't make any difference in the end when they're adults.

I have to agree with this. I didn’t have chores growing up, and I never packed a lunch either. I was fine on my own. My 15 yo has been packing her own lunch for years. It’s all the same in the end.

I would LOVE to talk to your college roommates and I would bet big money they do not agree with your assessment.

What do you think she would say? Our door room was impeccably clean, we had rules about where stuff could be stored. We both did our own laundry and used to borrow the vacuum form the housekeeper to do our floor. We used to cook in the lounge occasionally, too.

[Anonymous]

My brother expected his kids to pack their own lunch before they were ready. They packed some pretty weird things which led to a call home from the school.

[Anonymous]

4th grade. When my daughter realized that some of her friends were packing their own lunch she got on board.

[Anonymous]

Mine are 10, 12, and 5 and I pack theirs. It is just easier. I know what they like and sometimes they will request specific things. I’m up early in the morning to prepare the breakfast table, empty dishwasher, and make lunches. We have a small galley kitchen and having 2-3 kids trying to make their own lunches while I’m trying to get breakfast ready is just too many people tripping over each other.

But they are fully capable. Well, not the 5 yr old, but the other two

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My D is a sophomore in HS and I still pack hers. It's easier for me to do it as I'm making dinner for the family. If it were up to her, she'd likely forget. I don't mind and know that she's getting a decent meal during school.

+1 They eat whatever I give them, but what they make for themselves is never as healthy or varied as what I pack them. I'd rather have them practice on non-school days. Also, mornings are too rushed as it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Probably never. I never did until I was in college. My father found it easier to just prepare everything himself in the morning. I never had chores either. And yet, as soon as I was on my own, I never had any trouble doing everything myself, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. It's laughable how people on DCUM fall all over themselves trying to have the youngest kids doing chores and being independent, when it really doesn't make any difference in the end when they're adults.

Hah, same here. I never really had any chores except for helping dry the pots and pans after dinner. I am fully capable of getting everything done now and had no problem transitioning into adulthood. My husband, on the other hand, had a ton of chores and he is terrible when it comes to responsibility around the house. My kids are in 5th and 3rd and I still pack their lunches.

SAME! So glad to hear it. My (working) mom packed my lunch until 14? I didn't have real chores besides my own laundry (this was my choice because my mom messed it up) and keeping my own room clean and shoveling the driveway when it snowed. My dad taught me about finances and car maintenance. And yet...I figured out how to cook, clean, and pretty quickly too. My kids are in 6th and 4th, and I pack their lunches daily. If I don't have time (probably happens once a week because of early meetings), I tell them the night before and they will do it in the morning.

[Anonymous]

I feel like it is a nice thing to do for them. If you don’t want to and they do, that is different. But I don’t think it has anything to do with their independence. It’s just being parent and lending a hand to make mornings go smoothly and provide an act of love to your child.

[Anonymous]

My 4th grader does it now. His 1st grader brother saw him and wants to do it too. I supervise, but he likes doing it.

[Anonymous]

What are they putting in their lunches typically? I’m standing there in the morning with a kettle to heat water to heat the the thermoses for hot leftovers that I’m simultaneously reheating in the microwave. Like are your 7th graders doing that in the morning while rolling out of bed, eating, packing backpack, brushing…things, etc etc?