How to Raise Children

How to Raise Children

what is the more effective in raising children: punishment and discipline, or verbal instruction and encouragement?

family members should be allies, not adversaries

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it (Pro 22:6)

"Spare the rod and spoil the child" may be the most famous of the Bible's proverbs.

Proverbs calls punishment a form of love and says that parents who won't discipline their children are in danger of ruining them.

But that much - quoted maxim is only a small part of what proverbs has to offer on the subject of bringing up children.

The overwhelming emphasis of proverbs is on verbal encouragement and teaching.

The whole book is framed as a father's words to his son, teaching him those "facts of life" that have nothing to do with biology.

Again and again he pleads, "Listen, my son."

Mother has equally important words(Pro 1:8 listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do into forsake your mother's teaching.

Pro 6:20 My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching).

The parent - child conversation is a warm one, and proverbs 17:6 bears out what the whole book implies: parent and children are not meant to be adversaries, but allies in life who are proud of each other.

proverbs on parent - child relationship:3:11,12; 10:1,5; 13:1,24; 14:26; 15:20; 17: 6,21; 19:18,26-27; 22:6,15; 23:13-16,22-25; 27:11; 29:15,17; 31:28