As a teacher I couldn't agree more!!
This year in my kindy class (5 yr olds) I have a couple who are so babied they cannot do ANYTHING for themselves and not even clearly ask someone else to do it either! I have one boy who just says "jumper" and looks all babyish.... um no !! If you ask me properly I will help you take it off and show you how to do it but not like that when English is your only language and you are not speech impaired!
Some of mine can't even put their reading folder in a box each morning their mum's do it.
Sorry- rant over, it just frustrates me that we are creating a wave of helpless children who cannot do anything for themselves.
Yep, this is the kind of thing I am talking about, it is NOT too much to expect a 5 year old to be capable of putting away their backpack, lunchbox, hanging up their hat. And they should be able to try to put on their own shoes and jumpers, etc. We teach them these skills, but they should be things being taught at home. 5 year olds aren't babies.