I didn’t understand when my children were very young about how much capacity they actually had to be contributing to our family, and how valuable it would be for them. Children get a lot of joy from helping and giving and from being competent at the everyday activities of the household.
Long after their early childhood I learned about Montessori (and Reggio Amelio) programs, which create learning environments for children for the most pragmatic activities of caring for themselves and each other. Children take so much pride in being able to give as well as receive.
