Helpfulness Starts Earlier Than You Think

Helpfulness Starts Earlier Than You Think

by Lubna Nazarani  

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Even very young children want to help. Long before they can explain their thoughts, children show us they want to be part of what’s happening around them. You might see this when a toddler tries to carry groceries, wipes a spill, or insists on feeding the family pet “all by myself.”

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These moments aren’t random. Helpfulness is an early sign of social and emotional development and can begin as early as one year old. When children help, they are learning that they belong, that their actions matter, and that they can contribute to their family and community.

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In the all-new Gallery of Wonder, set to open in Summer 2026, the Viva Village exhibit is designed to make this kind of learning visible. In the home, market, and pet care areas, children naturally practice helping behaviors. They carry items from place to place, feed animals, tidy up materials, and take part in shared routines that feel familiar from daily life. There’s no script or right answer, just space for children to try, imitate, and participate.

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For caregivers, these moments can be easy to miss. But when you pause and watch, you’ll often see your child carefully choosing how to help or proudly repeating a task they’ve seen you do at home.

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You can support helpfulness by giving children simple, real ways to contribute, like handing you something to put away or letting them help care for a pet. It might take longer, and it might get messy, but the learning is worth it.

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At the museum and at home, helpfulness grows when children feel trusted, capable, and included.

_{Warneken, F., & Tomasello, M. (2006). Altruistic helping in human infants and young chimpanzees. Science, 311(5765), 1301–1303.}