We just started with DD (10) being responsible for her own laundry. One of us stands with her while she checks for stains and loads the machine. And we will help her get it up on the clothes’ line* since she needs a stool to reach part of the line. But she is responsible for taking down from line, folding and putting away.

*we line dry, weather permitting. I’ll teach her how to use the dryer in the fall.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many parents would admit to still doing their mid-older teens or college aged child's laundry?

My 9 year old knows how to wash/dry and fold clothing and helps but come older teens, yes, I'd still do it if he is still involved in a lot of activities and school. He needs to know how but there is nothing wrong with us as a family helping each other out.

That’s how it works in my house. Sometimes I do it for everyone, sometimes DH does and yesterday DS did several loads for the entire family. Youngest DD folds since she can’t reach the wash machine yet. It’s easier to combine than do a bunch of smaller clothes and I taught DS when he was 10 about the different cycles for different clothes and what could not go in the dryer.

Anonymous wrote:How many parents would admit to still doing their mid-older teens or college aged child's laundry?

My 9 year old knows how to wash/dry and fold clothing and helps but come older teens, yes, I'd still do it if he is still involved in a lot of activities and school. He needs to know how but there is nothing wrong with us as a family helping each other out.

Absolutely. By their early teens, my kids had a handle on all basic life skills. Shame on any parent who doesn't teach their children how to properly take care of themselves. This includes the ability to wear clean clothes, clean themselves, clean their living environment and adequately feed themselves. You don't have to be a master chef, but teach your kids to make semi nutritious food that doesn't come from a microwave.

Getting enough nutrients on a daily basis for your body to function is a basic life skill. I hate when I hear people complain that they don't know how to cook. No one requires daily beef wellington. Protein, veggies, fruit. It's not complicated.

My 10 year old does. But I assume any 18 - 19 yo would just YouTube it.

Never did laundry growing up, although I did a hell of a lot of ironing. My dad was an electrician and fixed other people's stuff but was partial to baling wire workarounds at home and my mom wouldn't let us touch the machine. She showed me how the machine worked in a laundromat en route to college.

I did my kids’ laundry all the way through high school. Somehow they managed to master this challenging life is skill right before they left for college. Maybe my kids are just exceptional?

My 16YO teen boy does his own laundry. Problem is - he's a total slob and puts the clean clothes anywhere but in the dresser drawers.

Anonymous wrote:Of course. They have been doing their laundry on their own since they were 10. It's a basic life skill and it's not hard.

Same

Haven’t seen the commercial. My teens (17 and 19) don’t know how to care for vintage silk and cashmere, but they don’t own any. They’ve known how to throw their stuff into the washing machine, insert a card (we don’t own a washing machine and use the communal ones) and press a button since middle school.

I taught my tall son to do laundry when he was 6. Also to fold it and put it away. I know you think I'm lying but I'm not.

He's a very competent adult now, can do anything and everything a grown person should be able to do.

Yes, I taught them the basics pretty young at around 11.

My wife grew up with a personal nanny (each kid had their own) as well as maids. We met in college and she had no idea how to do laundry. She sent hers out, like, ALL of it. She also had no idea how to properly clean. I had to teach her as much as the kids.

Of course. They have been doing their laundry on their own since they were 10. It's a basic life skill and it's not hard.

Of course they know how to do laundry. The instructions are right there on the machine.

How many parents would admit to still doing their mid-older teens or college aged child's laundry?