‘She can’t even cook rice. I’ve tried teaching her but it just doesn’t get through to her.’
SOME people learn to cook as children, while others only step into the kitchen much later in life. It is a skill that does not need to be rushed, but rather one that can be picked up gradually over time.
However, one Malaysian mother has triggered debate online after questioning whether it is “normal” for her eight-year-old daughter to still be unable to cook rice despite repeated attempts to teach her.
In a Threads post, she wrote: “She can’t even cook rice. I’ve tried teaching her but it just doesn’t get through to her. Her mother could already make fried rice at six years old, hmm.”
She also revealed in the comments that her six-year-old son is already able to cook rice and fry nuggets under her supervision.
“Cooking is actually good for kids, you know — it helps with their motor skills,” she said, defending her stance.
Her remarks quickly drew backlash from Malaysian netizens, many of whom criticised her for placing unrealistic expectations on a young child..
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One user commented: “I only learned how to cook after getting married at 28, but I still earned a law degree. Children are not maids. Let them enjoy their childhood.”
Another commenter shared that she only learned to cook later in life because her family never allowed children into the kitchen while growing up. She added that her husband eventually hired someone to help with cooking, so she never had to struggle in the kitchen herself.
“Only you truly know your child — her strengths and weaknesses. Please don’t force her. Teach her gradually until she wants to do it herself, but don’t pressure her,” another netizen cautioned.
Others pointed out that children develop skills at different paces and that not being able to cook at eight years old should not be viewed as a failure.
The discussion also triggered a broader conversation online about parenting expectations, with some arguing that practical life skills are important to teach from a young age, while others stressed that childhood should not be overshadowed by unnecessary pressure or comparisons with previous generations.
