Mums should NOT pack school lunches for their kids when they turn EIGHT – as expert says they should learn to do things themselves

A PAEDIATRICIAN has urged mums and dads to stop packing their kids' school lunches when they reach the age of eight.

Dr Damon Korb, from California, claims parents need to allow their children to be "independent thinkers and problem solvers" from an early age.

According to Dr Korb, letting kids pack their own lunches will help them develop key "planning skills".

Speaking on Australia's Today Show, he said: "When we think about what we do when we make lunch, it requires planning and problem solving.

"Kids need to think about am I going to be hungry if I don't pack enough or what can I put in my lunch that isn't going to make my mother mad, or if we're running out of jelly I need to tell my mum so we'll have enough jelly for tomorrow.

"Those kinds of planning skills are important to be developed in kids and the everyday task of making a lunch are the way to do it."

Dr Korb continued to explain that when kids do things for themselves it makes them feel pride, adding: "It's the skills they're going to need as they enter into adulthood - to be able to take care of themselves, make decisions, help other people out and be good citizens.

"Our job as a parent is to coach them and teach them to do these things effectively and correctly."

According to Dr Korb, just two years on at the age of 10, kids should be able to make their own breakfast, lunch and manage their homework load without guidance.

And he even said it's a good idea to "let kids be bored".

"Parents these days are afraid of their kids being bored so we pacify them by putting electronics in front of them or letting them watch millions of TV channels," he explained.

"But the reality is kids are best served going outside with a stick and a ball - and try to figure out what to do.

"Learning how to be creative and learning how to be imaginative are skills that we use to build problem solving abilities they would use later in life."

In other parenting news, we told you how one mum invented a brilliant tip to keep kids quiet by telling them they need to lie still to ‘charge’ their glow-in-the-dark pyjamas.

We also revealed one mum uses £1 Disney tote bags from Poundland to create storage boxes for her daughter’s bedroom.

And we showed you how a toddler hacked off his two-year-old sister’s hair with scissors – but their parents say they love her new look.