themselves at meals. If you are vacuuming the carpet, you can empower your child by letting him run this most-adult-of-all housekeeping tool. Caring for animals Pets and livestock require water, food and clean environments. Young children can learn valuable lessons by caring for animals. Gardening Nurturing plants helps children learn about the wonders of nature. If you don't have space for a garden, a small window planter can bring opportunities to explore. In all of these activities, it's important to remember several points: Keep in mind what your children can accomplish, and how much you need to supervise to make sure the activity is safe. Even young children can tell the difference between busy work and real work. Also, remember that many chores actually take longer with the help of young children, but a little patience and a few extra minutes lets them reap real benefits from assisting the family. By matching your expectations to their abilities, encouraging and approving their efforts, and allowing plenty of time for the performance of each task, you can give your young children many opportunities to learn and grow through work. ...
