At what age did you stop making lunches for kids?

[Anonymous]

You know - it is something I do for my kid. He is quite independent in many ways and helps out around the house (trash, lawn,etc). The lunch box is just a liitle way of showing affection for him. He does not have a school lunch option.

[Anonymous]

My daughter started 1st grade today but in kindergarten she was "making" her own lunch. Every evening after dinner we would get everything out and pack her lunch for the next day. She would pick her drink, dairy, fruit, veggie & treat while I made her sandwich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I packed their lunches from kindergarten all the way through their senior years in high school. I pack my DH's as well. Just something I could do to make things a little easier for them in the morning.

But why on earth can lunches be made the night before?
I've always done it that way.

For us it's because I don't need to make them the night before. Our mornings are not typically rushed or hectic. If I worked outside the home, we would have to do things differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I packed their lunches from kindergarten all the way through their senior years in high school. I pack my DH's as well. Just something I could do to make things a little easier for them in the morning.

But why on earth can lunches be made the night before?
I've always done it that way.

Not that poster, but I think lunches made the night before, especially sandwiches, are nasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I packed their lunches from kindergarten all the way through their senior years in high school. I pack my DH's as well. Just something I could do to make things a little easier for them in the morning.

But why on earth can lunches be made the night before?
I've always done it that way.

Different routines work for different families. YMMV

It doesn't matter in the long run if lunches are made the night before or the morning of. It doesn't matter if it is sandwiches or leftovers. It doesn't matter if the child makes it or the parent makes it. It doesn't matter if it is in an LLBean or Hello Kitty reusable lunch box or a brown paper bag. It doesn't matter if the kids eat school lunch instead- for whatever reason. What matters for your family is what fits and works for your family.

[Anonymous]

first grade i taught them how to do it and have not made them since. now 6 & 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I packed their lunches from kindergarten all the way through their senior years in high school. I pack my DH's as well. Just something I could do to make things a little easier for them in the morning.

But why on earth can lunches be made the night before?
I've always done it that way.

Not that poster, but I think lunches made the night before, especially sandwiches, are nasty.

I agree. Sitting in plastic for 12 hours...

[Anonymous]

In our family we all pitch in to help with things that benefit the family as a whole. So, I might make lunch for everyone, while one kid throws everyone's laundry in the washer, and another one walks the family dog or empties the dishwasher. Usually, I end up being the one making lunch, if there's lunch to be made (my kids usually buy), because it's something that I enjoy doing, it makes me feel like I can still nurture them a little, but if I don't have time then someone else does it.

[Anonymous]

I have a new 1st grader. He picks out his snack and veggie/fruit and puts them on counter. I get the drink and main dish (I usually heat the main dish). The way he gets some choices and is leaning responsibility. Also makes things faster for me.

[Anonymous]

This is such a weird thread because it seems so odd to establish your superior parenting over making a school lunch. Do you really think the kids who have their lunch made are going to end up irresponsible spoiled brats tied to their ipads for life? For people who like to make lunches in the morning, it is hardly worth a battle to get one's kid motivated to do what is a pretty menial task. Now if you asked how many kids clean toilets, then you can establish your bona fides as a superior parent, particularly for those parents who push their 5 year olds to clean their toilets after making their lunch (and soon dinner for the whole family).

[Anonymous]

yes our kids clean their own bathrooms. i grew up that way wihtouth cleaning ladies and it isn't a big deal.. i guess it is below some but not us.

[Anonymous]

Do you guys still do your high schooler's laundry too?
I always wondered how kids arrived at college not knowing how to pick out a healthy meal or run a washing machine.
Now I know.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy making my kids' lunches - 2nd and 4th grade.
They know how to make a sandwich but it's something I like to prepare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is such a weird thread because it seems so odd to establish your superior parenting over making a school lunch. Do you really think the kids who have their lunch made are going to end up irresponsible spoiled brats tied to their ipads for life? For people who like to make lunches in the morning, it is hardly worth a battle to get one's kid motivated to do what is a pretty menial task. Now if you asked how many kids clean toilets, then you can establish your bona fides as a superior parent, particularly for those parents who push their 5 year olds to clean their toilets after making their lunch (and soon dinner for the whole family).

It didn't seem to me that many, if any, of those who responded to this thread were claiming that they were superior parents because they made or didn't make their kids' lunches. I think it's a very interesting question, and I like knowing what others do. I actually did an informal poll of many of my friends on this topic not long ago because my then 7th grader claimed he was the only person at school who was forced to make his own lunch in the morning. I thought he was just being dramatic, but it turned out that the vast majority of my friends are still making their kids' lunches. It didn't change our lunch-making practices much, but I am more sympathetic when he gripes about the (incredible, unbelievable) burden it places on him, and I've taken to making his lunch for him on special occasions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you guys still do your high schooler's laundry too?
I always wondered how kids arrived at college not knowing how to pick out a healthy meal or run a washing machine.
Now I know.

My children know how to pack a lunch. They also know how to do their laundry.

Now, do they actually pack their lunches? Do they actually do their laundry? Those are different questions.