The Helping Gene

The last couple of days my wife and I have noticed that our 3.7 year old daughter has become incredibly helpful around the house. She’s emptying her backpack, clearing the table, bringing toys to her brother, and just generally being really helpful. It makes me wonder– what is it about human beings that makes us want to help one another? Why, all of a sudden, does my daughter want to lend a hand? I’m not sure that there’s a single answer or that the question itself is particularly profound. It’s just a joy the emergence of an ethic of caring in our daughter.