At what age or grade do your kids start packing their own lunches? (parents, son)
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My daughter is an 8th grader and I still pack her lunch. I usually do mine, my husband's and hers all at once. It just works for us.
She is pretty independent and gets herself breakfast every morning--sometimes cooking eggs--and lunch, etc. on the weekends. It just makes for an easier morning if I do it.
Well, I guess that makes me a mean mama. I'm surprised at how many say they still fix a lunch for teens.
There are several reasons why my girls are required to make their own lunch.
1)It's about responsibility and teaching time management. It's about thinking the night before about did they put their lunch box containers in the dishwasher so they would be ready the next morning.
2)It came to be because I was tired of getting half their lunch back and they would say "I don't like that kind of sandwich". One girl actually doesn't like any kind of bread - lucky kid- and so I said "OK you start making your own lunch and that way we all will be happy".
3) They are allowed to buy lunch once a week and since we get a monthly menu they pick in advance which day they will buy. When they buy I can't be sure what they are actually eating. But when they take lunch to school they are required to pack up what they don't eat and bring it home. This isn't my rule. I think the school does this and I'm glad they do. How else would we know what is eaten and what gets tossed.
Not saying my way is best for everybody-it's just what works for us.
^^^^ I don't feel mean at all. I push personal responsiblity in my house, my kids started making their own lunches for school in 2nd grade, before that they assisted. They do have chores at home, but more of take care of your things, pick up after self, and take personal responsiblity.
I understand for some it works for their home to make the kids lunches, easier, cleaner, etc. This is just not how it works for us. Them making their own lunches, from the "lunch" self in the fridge enables them to pick a healthy balance as well as portions.
Interesting thread....Love hearing how different householdsd operate!
In 6th grade or so, I stopped packing lunches (on a regular basis) and getting them up in the morning. I'd pack lunches from time to time if I had the time and the inclination, but not as a habit. Interestingly, once it was their responsibility, they sure appreciated it more when I jumped in with a packed lunch from time to time!
My 4th grader packs her own lunch most of the time. Sometimes I will do it for her the night before, but she doesn't like "soggy" sandwiches & I don't have time in the morning. She is also responsible for emptying her lunch box when she gets home, putting the ice pack back in the freezer, containers in the sink, and washing & refilling her water bottle.
She has just started doing her own laundry occasionally also, since she doesn't like to bring her dirty clothes to the main laundry area so her clothes don't always get washed with the rest of the family's. I got sick of hearing how her favorite outfit wasn't clean so I told her when the hamper in her room starts getting full, throw her clothes in the washer! I think she actually likes doing her laundry!
not to hijack the thread but the best way to get a boy or man to do his own laundry is to turn his shorts pink! All it takes is once of twice and then they want to do their own laundry. Neat trick my MIL taught me. She had 4 husbands and she trained then all pretty well.
Well I'm way ahead of all of you. My toddler packs his own lunch.
(not actually my toddler but you get the idea)
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