Jst want some advice on what ages kids should make their own lunches? I have a 13 and 14 year old and they dont want to make their own lunches and go to school hungry unless I make it
Jst want some advice on what ages kids should make their own lunches? I have a 13 and 14 year old and they dont want to make their own lunches and go to school hungry unless I make it
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17 Replies
I gave up sending lunch to school once my kids started high school. Didn’t matter if I made it or they did, it was coming home uneaten and getting thrown in the bin. They usually have a decent breakfast then come home and have a decent afternoon tea, then a big dinner a few hours later. If they have spare money they’ll sometimes get something at the school café/tuck shop for lunch. I was the same in high school, refused to take lunch with me and occasionally buying something if I had spare money.
I was like that too, but my high schooler likes to take a packed lunch everyday lol lucky me!!!!!
My kids are the same age.
I still make their lunches. Should I? Probably not but honestly it's really not the hill I wanna die on either. I have to make my own lunch anyway and I know my kids are capable of feeding themselves if they need to so I see no point refusing to make them some lunchd purely out of principle.
I spent a lot of time hungry at school so it just makes me feel better knowing that my kids have food available if they need/want it. I often throw in extra sandwiches/snacks for my daughter because she has a friend who always comes to school with no lunch.
I started making my own at 7 and so did my kids. 1 piece of fruit or a vegetable. 1 snack. 1 sandwich. Easy peasy.
Edited to say that my daughter (now 8) sometimes likes leftovers instead of a sandwich. If that's the case, she says so when we're cooking dinner together so we make extra. My son (11) is on medication that reduces his appetite, so he doesn't eat all his lunch, but the expectation is it's made regardless just in case. I'd prefer the food was available and thrown out than he goes hungry.
My husband is a tradie and leaves at 4.30am so he's not around in the morning. I'm an executive and often managing leave etc in the morning, so having my kids be capable is helpful and it also has them be accountable for their own well-being.
Teenagers are weird they don't want to eat at school but will eat enough for 4 people at home!
That's so true :)
My kids make their own lunch and have from a young age. They're more interested in eating lunch they've made because it's made the way they like it and is what they wanted.
If my kids chose to avoid eating if it wasn't made for them, I'd make it. At the end of the day, they can't focus on their school work without fuel. As long as they do other things for themselves in some way it doesn't really matter overall.
i pack my 16 year olds lunch, my mum always packed mine also, i thought that's what mothers do.
i work as well full time in a stressful job, but it has no bearing on my parenting.
Teaching a child time management, food preparation skills and healthy food choices is hardly poor parenting. Just because someone has a different approach to you doesn't make them better or worse.
Touche my friend!
Oh, let me guess, you must be the "executive".
Yep- totally agree. Different families = different chores. My nieces make their lunch at mum's house and help with clothes washing/dishes at their dad's. Find what works in your house.
Maybe I don't see school lunches as a way of building my child's time management, nutrition or whatever other life skill you want to ridiculously assign to this everyday task.
A lot of mums just enjoy preparing their child's lunches, much like dinner, is that still allowed?
They aren't your employees, they are your kids.
To clarify, I just didn't understand why you were being so judgemental. My kids like making their lunch, it's easy for them, it makes my mornings easier and they get life skills like I mentioned by default. Where is the negative?
There are plenty of other things that are important to my kids and I that other parents don't do. That makes their household different to ours though, not inferior.
Judgment should be saved for situations where a child is being mistreated or taking on responsibility that they can't handle out of necessity.
I have no issue with kids making their own lunch, what I can't stand is the arrogant wanky dialogue that went along with it.
Hey, they can put these soft skills on their resume.
Mine all stopped eating it. I was really worried initially but then realised they were still eating lots when they came home. I discovered my son was doing it because he worried about things getting caught in his teeth or braces so am trying to figure out gum or something that will help. Not sure why daughter stopped but I do know lots of body shaming at school and at her father's house :(
I still make my daughter's. She is 17 and has a long commute to school, so I make her lunch while she gets ready in the morning. It's a small thing to do that makes her day start easier.
Always made my child’s lunches from day one till they left. I also make my husbands and have for them past 25 years and he’s old enough and capable, but as a mother/wife I enjoy doing this these for them. I make lunches and they grab snacks. Works well and my mum did the same for me growing up.
Soon my kids will be moved out and I’ll miss the little things.