– By Allison When my son was about 1 ½ years old I told him to
pick up a piece of paper and throw it in the garbage. To my
amazement, he did that. It was one of my first wake up calls
that children, even young toddlers, understand way more than we
give them credit for. “You can begin chores very early, even
with children as young as 18 months,” agreed Darlene J. Mech,
Ph.D., licensed psychologist. “Remember that for toddlers,
helping you isn’t a chore, its fun and a way to please you.” “My
17-month old, Gabbi, wants to help me with various tasks. She
loves to unload the dishwasher with me and take the clothes out
of the dryer,” said Julie B., Oostburg, Wis. “The job takes
longer, but she is learning to help out and feels like she is
contributing to the family.” In fact, engaging children in
chores at a young age is extremely beneficial in teaching little
ones responsibility and family values. “In my opinion, a child
should never be able to remember a time when he or she didn’t
have the expectation of pitching