Depending on the environment you grew up in, the concept of chores may be a familiar or foreign one. Raising Able; How Chores Cultivate Capable Confident Young People by Susan Tordella argues the value of children taking an active part in the family unit through chores in order to build confidence, discipline, and a sense of contribution. Tordella’s point is well taken. She relates that too often in today’s family children are not expected to make a contribution to the family unit and that parents end up waiting on their children like servants. This non-expectation leads to a sense of entitlement and selfishness as children grow into young adults.

Tordella calls on her experience as a mother of four in the writing of this book. I enjoyed the fact that the advice and counsel given to parents comes from methods that have been proven in the laboratory of the family unit. I also enjoyed the testimonies offered by many that spoke of the value of chores at a young age. There is a lot of information in this book, yet it is not overwhelming. The author stresses the importance of family meetings, chore charts, age-appropriate chores, and consequences for not following through on chore without beating up the parent.

Susan Tordella has written a humorous, real-life, and down-to-earth book that is worth your time and attention. I believe parents would benefit from her experiences and counsel in making chores a vital part of healthy families and healthy children. I want to thank Susan for sending me a copy of this book for read and review.