Yes, they can do this, if you are a minor. Parents have the right to determine what activities and chores--which include helping at family economic activities, like your father's paper route--that their children must do. This is no different from the common situations of farm children having to help with the animals or harvests, or children of store- or restaurant-owning families having to help out in those business. You can, however, make this work for you in the future, by being able to list and describe this work experience on resumes or college applications.