Riding a bike at 6, doing the washing at 8 and the 50 other things YOUR child should be able to do from 7 to 16 years old

Children should be able to tie their shoelaces at seven, ride a bike at six and be trusted to have their own front door key by 14, according to parents in Yorkshire.
Children should be able to ride a bike by the age of six.Children should be able to ride a bike by the age of six.
Children should be able to ride a bike by the age of six.

A nationwide survey of 2,000 mums and dads found they have a very clear idea of when their children should have achieved, or be allowed to, do particular things - and you can see the full list of what YOUR child should be able to do between the ages of 7 and 16 below.

They believe their little ones should begin to get pocket money at nine, start putting their own clothes in the wash at eight and be old enough to have Facebook at 14.

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Youngsters are considered mature enough to walk to school alone and have their own mobile phone at 12 years of age.

Teaching children the value of belongings and how to avoid loss are among the things that cause mums and dads the most problems as their youngsters get older.

Commissioned by My Nametags, manufacturer of durable sticker and iron-on labels, the research of parents with kids aged two to 18 also found 70 per cent believe privileges are granted too soon nowadays.

Lars B. Andersen, Managing Director at My Nametags, said: “Of course, every child is different and may be able to do things or take on certain responsibilities later or earlier than our results show.

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“However, it’s fascinating to get some indication of when mums and dads will typically allow or expect their kids to do certain things.”

Mums and dads will let their kids watch 12 certificate movies alone at 12 years old, 15 certificate movies at 14 and 18 certificate movies aged 16.

Once they reach 16 they can have friends over when mum and dad aren’t around and also be out after dark.

While 15 is the age they can listen to explicit songs, go on dates and start buying their own clothes.

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Parents are happy for their youngsters to have a TV in their bedroom at 11 years old and trust them to surf the web unsupervised when they are 12.

WhatsApp and Snapchat accounts are permitted at 14, while MP3 players and tablets are allowed at 12 – and laptops are considered acceptable at 13.

Ten is the age they can have friends over for sleepovers and go to their pals for overnight stays too.

And 13 is the point when parents trust their children to be in the house alone and also go out on their own.

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Those polled believe children can stay up until 8pm at eight years old, not go to bed until 9pm aged ten and not get their heads down until 10pm aged 12.

Twenty-nine per cent of mums and dads consider themselves to be stricter than other parents.

However, 56 per cent said they granted many of the privileges featured in the research earlier than they were granted them by their own mums and dads.

Four in ten said they feel peer pressure from other parents to allow their kids to do certain things, while half have fallen out with their partner over certain privileges.

AGE OF EXPECTATION – A TIMELINE:

16 YEARS OLD:

Have friends over when parents are away

Go out after dark

15 YEARS OLD:

Listen to explicit songs

Go on a date

Buy their own clothes

Have a girlfriend or boyfriend round to visit

Buy energy drinks

14 YEARS OLD:

Have Facebook

Have Snapchat

Go to town with friends

Have their own front door key

Have WhatsApp

Go to the cinema with friends

13 YEARS OLD:

Be in the house alone

Go out on their own

Go to the shop on their own

FaceTime friends

Have a computer in their bedroom

12 YEARS OLD:

Walk to school on their own

Surf the web alone

Own a mobile phone

Cycle to school

Play at the local park unsupervised

Have a laptop

Have an MP3 player

11 YEARS OLD:

Have a tablet device

Have a TV in their bedroom

10 YEARS OLD:

Put the dishes away

Take care of their school uniform

Not to lose belongings

Understand the value of their possessions

Be allowed to choose what they wear

Have friends over for sleepovers

Go to friends for sleepovers

Fold-up clothes when they take them off

Get ready by themselves

9 YEARS OLD:

Lay the table

Start getting pocket money

Bath or shower without help

8 YEARS OLD:

Tie their own shoelaces

Put their own clothes in the wash

Brush their teeth without help

7 YEARS OLD:

Ride a bike

GOING TO BED:

8pm – eight years old

9pm – ten years old

10pm – 12 years old

MOVIES:

Watch 12 certificate movies alone – 12 years old

Watch 15 certificate movies alone – 14 years old

Watch 18 certificate movies alone – 16 years old