It's the Brian Lair Show on WNYC. I'm Bridget Bergen, filling in for Brian today.

Can I help?

If you have little kids at home hearing that question might either fill you with joy joy or for some parents a bit of dread thinking about all that might still be left to be done after your kid offers to help.

But no matter how well chores are done, doing them, offers kids a host of developmental benefits.

So when they're eagerly offering to pitch in around the

house, what should parents do? Let them. That's according to our guest, Christine Carrig,

head of school at the Carrig Montessori School in Brooklyn, Substack writer, and the writer

in residence at the Cora, Maternal and Reproductive Psychology Lab at Teachers College.

Her new essay published in The Atlantic is titled, The Mistake Parents Make with Chores.

Christine, welcome to WNYC.

Thanks for having me.

And parents, what was your experience like with chores growing up?

Did you learn to make your bed, do the dishes, or

maybe iron because it was one of your chores when you were a kid? And now, how are you handling

chores at your home? Do your kids help out in the kitchen? Maybe it's their job to clean up

after the family pet who picks up all the toys. We want to hear from you, call or text the number

212-433 W-N-YC. That's 212-433-9692. Christine, your essay starts with an anecdote about how your

Montessori preschoolers are better than your own children at doing chores.

Can you tell us that story?

That is, well, that certainly was the truth.

So I have always worked with kids ages three to six.

I've been with that age group for about 20 years.

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