Share the Priceless Gift of Self-Discipline with Your Children

Tired of doing everything around the house while the kids play video games? Come hear Susan Tordella, the author of "Raising Able: How Chores Empower Families," who will lead an interactive program on how parents can influence children to cook, clean house, do yard work, and more.  This event takes place on Wednesday, January 25th, 7-8:30pm at Pollard Middle School auditorium in Needham.  Susan Tordella will share strategies on how parents can involve tots-to-teens in household tasks, which nurtures self-discipline, self-confidence and self-esteem. "Chores teach children responsibility, which leads to good decision-making when they become teenagers, so they make good decisions when they are 60 miles away going 60 miles an hour," Tordella said.  There is no charge for this event, but registration is strongly encouraged.  A donation at the door to support the Needham Community Education scholarship fund will be appreciated.  To register, please complete the online registration above.

Chores are an excellent strategy to counteract entitlement, too. "It's impossible to feel entitled when you've cleaned a few toilets," says Tordella.  Parents of children from 2 to 22 will benefit from the program. "When children start doing chores as young as 2 or 3 years old, they get into the habit of contributing to the household until they leave. They will be more capable, competent and responsible," said Tordella.  As a parenting skills workshop leader for a decade, Tordella has walked the talk by caring for four children born in seven years, then sailing through 16 straight years of living with tweens and teens.  "We set up a democratic home to get everyone to contribute without yelling, threatening, punishing, beating, grounding or shaming them. It takes time, encouragement and family meetings-dinner-and-chores work in the long haul. It's fun to watch a 13 year old run a family meeting and solve problems together, and see what they have the self-confidence to create," said Tordella.  "Parents and child care workers will be amazed at what children volunteer for, and how they respond to encouragement and family meetings. On the surface, they're doing chores. Underneath, much more is happening, such as strengthening the parent-child, parent-teen connection. The stronger this connection, the more likely your youngsters will make good decisions, especially when the stakes get higher."

This event is hosted by the Needham Women's Club and Needham Community Education.  To learn more about Susan Tordella, visit www.raisingable.com, tune into WCAP 980 am Mondays at 10:15 am as the parenting expert, and hear Susan Tordella regularly  on WBZ 1030 AM, The Parenting Minute with Doug Cope.