Middle-class parenting neglects life skills that are essential for students | Letters

We owe it to our young people to teach them how to do laundry and prepare food, writes Melissa Scallan, while Pippa Keech recalls her son’s university halls baptism of fire

Zoe Williams’ university-bound son won’t be the only one among his peers not to know how, or indeed why, bed sheets are laundered (I went to Ikea with my son – and was confronted with my parenting failures, 8 September).

Modern day, middle-class parenting tends to direct kids away from domestic pursuits, focusing instead on academic achievements and sporting prowess or music grades, scouting activities and Duke of Edinburgh awards. With their waking hours consumed by so many outside interests, there’s little time for learning life skills such as cooking, cleaning and laundering.