Obedience

Parents must learn the lesson of implicit obedience to God's voice.

Child Guidance, p. 24

Teaching the Child to Pray

"A mother who holds a young child on her lap and prays aloud teaches the child to pray. The child sees her reverence, her closed eyes, her beseeching and sincere attitude. He or she notes that Mother speaks in ordinary language to her friend, God. A father who prays aloud before meals shows his family his faith in God. It may be that a four- or five-year-old will not understand all the words in family prayers, but much will be learned about the procedure of prayer."

Alice Chapin, Building Your Child's Faith
page 54

The Art of Listening

"Children should be taught the art of listening --- listening to the wind, the birds, the rain, and to mother when she speaks. As parents, let us make our voices meaningful, expressive, and calm. As we compete with the television, radio, trucks, and jets, let us not try to out scream them. More emphasis can be obtained by lowering the voice when the child will need to concentrate and listen to understand. What we say should also contain meaning or it had better be left unsaid."

Thema Beem, The Dignity of a Child
page 80

Good Discipline Felt by the Family

"If in love and justice the parent leads out in the situations that arise in the home, good discipline will be felt by the family. The word discipline comes from the same root word as disciple. Through real leadership we as parents can give our children worthwhile ideals, values, and moral principles to build on. our children must have leaders to follow if they are to be disciples."

Thelma Beem, The Dignity of a Child
page 13

Importance of Incidental Teaching

“An alarming number of parents appear to have little confidence in their ability to "teach" their children. We should help parents understand the overriding importance of incidental teaching in the context of warm, consistent companionship. Such caring is usually the greatest teaching, especially if caring means sharing in the activities of the home.” 

Raymond S. Moore, School Can Wait