Should boys be asked to help their mom in the kitchen?If so at what age ?

Start with having him help without having the responsibility for the chores at first. I believe boys and girls should learn how do do all types of household chores, not certain ones for boys and girls. At 2, my son helps set and clear the table for dinner, but it is not his job to do. I would wait quite a while longer to make it his responsibility. But exposing him at a young age helps him to feel comfortable doing it and like it's just a regular part of his day, instead of a new chore he suddenly has to take on. I don't think there is a specific age for certain responsibilities. Just teach him how and when you feel he does it well and can handle the job, you can then make it his chore.

My kids have helped out in the kitchen as soon as they could. By the age of one you can always get the forks and knifes to the table. My kids participate in all choires in the home - washing and cooking from start. How will they learn if they are not? So your husband never lived on his own? If a boy should be abeld to take care of himself they must get the chance to learn! I do know that grown up med without wifes get ther laundry washed by their mothers. I thinks is so disrespectful for the things done in the home!

well i started my son out at 8 years old and i train hin to cook fir mr as well as his self now he is 17 and he is a good cooks.we need to teach our children to cook for them self because once when they are out on there on they don,t really need a woman are man to do these things.i son clean like a woman so i know he can care forhim self if iam not here.

I agree with you. Boys need to know that is ok to be in the kitchen and cook etc. It is not just a woman's job afterall. If that was the case there would only be women chefs. My boys started at about the age of two. They can easily help with making cookies, handing you a spoon etc. Dish duty starts at age 5-6. Make it fun for them then they will be more interested in helping. So my boys now are eager to help more with me cooking and watching and asking questions and take pride in knowing they helped to make dinner. I feel better knowing that when my boys leave the nest, they will be domesticated and can cook for themselves. It is part of the responsibility we have as parents to train our kids.

My dad has the same attitude with me. I have three sisters, and his view was that being a boy, I had no place in the kitchen at all and I would have to grow up being the main provider and I should learn this. However, thing have changed out of all recognition since I was a kid. My wife goes out to work full-time now, whereas my mother's work was at home caring for the family. My dad meant well I suppose, but I prepare meals and clean house so that my wife too can come home from work and relax. At weekends and holidays though, she prefers to have the kitchen to herself, so I tend to stay away, but I will always help if asked. :-) Derek

I guess as soon as a child is old enough to understand what and why he's doing things, a mother can start teaching him small chores. What more can a mother teach a boy than the chores of a mother? I think it's imperative to do this so that your son will learn how to appreciate what women can do to take care of their husbands. It will make them responsible fathers and husbands too in the future. I think as young as the age of five, you can teach your son some simple chores of mothers such as picking up toys or simple cleaning here and there. I am already teaching my five year old daughter of some simple chores like these. But when it comes to kitchen chores, I don't think there are things that you can already let them handle by that age, unless you want your plates broken. Maybe if you like to cook, you can let him do some simple hand peeling of fruits or maybe putting some table napkins.

I would say the age of eight sounds right. It is when my mother started making me and my brother help. My sister in law has chores for her son which he started at the age of eight also helping like sweeping,dusting and even doing dishes. Which he does better then his older sister. I feel that men/boys should help. The world is in a different time then it used to be way back then and I am glad it has changed. My husband helps me do housework when he isn't working and it is always greatly appreciated.

Todays world is totally different than your mother-in-law"s. Women are expecting a different life than your mother-in-law's did. I know that my culture is totally different than yours is but this is my take on the situation of boys helping in the kitchen. I have seen several discussions about needing to know how to cook by men from India. I have a friend that has her boys in the kitchen almost as soon as they could walk. She started by having the boys just hold something for her until she was ready for it. If you do eggs in any form you might start by having them break the shells for you and stirring is another thing they can do. start them with the simplest tasks as young as possible. But be sure to watch them so they don't get burned or cut. My own boy were frying eggs at 7 years old. They are pretty good cooks today.

Yes pickwick, I agree with what you said. Boys are to be trained for that aspect which will help them in future, not only when they are boys who are living with mother but also when they are man and are living the life with the life partners. I think they should get training in teenage for that matter. Nice thought pickwick, I appreciate you.

Your husband and his mother are wrong. Everyone should be taught to be self reliant. Cooking and cleaning. When my kids were at home every saturday morning before any cartoons can be watched the house had to be cleaned. My kids were present in the kitchen when i cooked a lot of the time. I didnt make them cook or do laundry. Most the time we had to go to laundry mats to do our clothes. When we were fortunate enough to have a washer and dryer my son washed his own clothes. We usually had clothes that didnt require ironing. I hate that chore myself. My daughter liked to iron. I dont know why. She would iron her unders. No joking. Is better for them to be self reliant than to have them marry cause they cant do it themselves. Thats lame.

I have 4 children all grown up now, 3 girls, 1 boy, I had to work when they were young[I was a divorced parent]so every one in my household had to help and it worked very well, there never was a question of whom is doing this or that, it had to be done and that's how it was. Now my son is marry he still does his washing, iron his shirts, and cooks dinner several times a week, he is a detective, his wife is a teacher, and when he works long hours he comes home to a lovely meal, but when he is home he would do the cooking, and when his wife is busy he would vacuum, do the beds and so on, at the moment he is painting the house with the help of his wife!so what can I say? Im proud to be the mother of such a human being.

I think you are right,everyone should do household chores ,inclucde boys.Do household chores is not special right for womam.we should ask our boys do simple household chores when they are at 6-7 ages,such as wash plates ,clean table......we can bring up their industrious customs by this way.

My son has been responsible for taking out the trash since he was 7 years old . He helps clean up the dishes , The ones he dirtys when he gets a snack after school. He makes his own bed and brings his own clothes to the laundry room. He is now 17. And now I know that when the time comes for him to move away from home , he will at least know some basics to survive without mom being there with him everyday. Cheryl

i absolutely agree that boys should be asked to help their mom in the kitchen.physcially speaking,boys take advantage over girls.my grandparents also believed that boys shouldn't go to kitchen,for they will be looked down upon if they dothis,they will be called little man. but i don't think so,a boy must become independent some day.he can't depend on some girl or sisters or girl friend ,wife to cook for him,wash clothes for him. i always respect those men who loves household. it is proper to teach a boy how to cook or wash clothes when they are at the age of seven or eight.

My son started helping me a little in the kitchen at age 5. He likes to cook. Between 8 and 12, he loved to fix things. He does a good job. He is now 14, and is not as interested. He would rather clean up after supper, but I think that is only because he can do it faster. At least he knows how enough to be able to take care of himself.

There is no certain age to start a child in the kitc hen. But as my opinion, I think the younger the better. Kids can start off with teaching them how to break and egg properly with no shell. My kids are 8, 10 and 17 and are masters at creaking eggs and not getting any shels in now. Kids can also pour ingrediants in. Help measure and mix ingrediants together. When you feel safe for them to use appliances or the stove, than allow them to try. Start out slow. You will see how eager they will be willing to learn. My 17 yr old son can cook any meal. Yes, he is that good. My 10 yr old son wants to be a chef among other things of his choice of the week.

hi pickwick...that is a good wuestion...yeah you can let your son help you in the kitchen...its their advantage and ours too as parents..it will lighten our burden for the daily chores if someone in the house will lend a hand to do it..and there is nothing wrong with it i guess..age? well depending on his capability to handle such simple tasks such as washing the dishes or whatever.. or maybe as early as 3 years old ..simply teaching him to clean up after playing of his toys to begin with..

Absolutely. All kids should learn how to help out around the home, whether it be dishes, assisting with cooking, cleaning, washing and sorts. I want my son to grow up and be independent and to know how to take care of himself, instead of relying on someone else to take care of him (unlike his daddy LOL). He is only 6 but helps out with the laundry (he folds his own clothes and the smaller things), helps me with baking, helps with the vacuuming and tidying up. Every child is different and will develop skills as they go along. As soon as you think he is capable of doing certain chores, then that's the time to start teaching them.

Well, dear I will tell you this your MIL and Hubby should get out of the dark ages!!!!! My kids (I have 4, and 3 are boys) have been helping in the kitchen since the age of 1 and 1/2 years of age, and I see nothing wrong with it. I am not doing it because of any sexist reasons, or to combat any sexist reasons. Nor am I doing it because I am lazy, as I am there working side by side with them. I am teaching ALL of my kids the things they will need to know to be self sufficient in this world, so that they will not have to rely on anyone but themselves and are cape able to take care of the things that need taking care of. My older three kids (14, 11, and 6) all know how to wash the laundry, and my almost 3 year old has mastered the turning on of the washer and dryer, and switching loads but is not quite old enough to pour the soap and softner in yet. My oldest son (the 14 year old) knows how to do the dishes, clear the table AND he knows how to prepare and cook a ham, a turkey with the fixings etc. While on the other hand my daughter (the 11 year old) knows how to change the engine oil in our vehicle, and knows how to change a tire as well. It is about being self sufficient, and the more you know how to do, the more you will be able to help others in need...and that is what makes this world go 'round. I believe this way my kids will be able to find an equal partner in life, but will never feel they have to stay with someone so the traditionally sexist jobs continue to get done. Not only that but it furthers that all of my kids are equal, and will not grow up hating or resenting their brothers or sister. If you feel strongly about this I would for sure fight for it!

My Mother and I both felt that our sons needed to be kitchen wise, so that they would never get married just to have some one cook for them. They turned to be very good cooks