The Fallacy of "Waiting Till They Grow Up"

We sometimes hear of parents and others who are responsible for the guidance of youth, who postpone the spiritual and moral instruction of children. This attitude is sometimes defended as being modern, liberal, or broadminded. “We’ll wait for them to grow up and let them make their own decisions,” they say. “We won’t urge our opinions upon them.”

It sounds easy and plausible with such a modern sound, but logic would suggest that if it were good to wait for the children grow up before we instill in them any spiritual convictions, wouldn’t it also be best to wait until they have grown up and let them decide for themselves whether or not they want to be honest, whether or not they want to be law abiding, whether or not they want good health? If, in the name of being modern and liberal, we are not going to take a hand in the habits and thinking of a child with respect to spiritual or moral matters, logic would demand that we don’t take a hand in his habits with respect to physical or intellectual matters—let him grow up before he decides whether or not he wants to go to school, what he wants to eat, whether or not he wants to respect authority of any kind.

Before a child is out of the cradle, his character is taking shape and his future in many matters cannot be left entirely until he is able to choose for himself: in matters of morals and ethics, in matters of food and health, in matters of mind or of spirit. The training of a child, including the shaping of sound spiritual and moral convictions, can scarcely begin too soon.

It is by early prayerful guidance that parents can later send their sons and daughters from their homes with reason to hope that the teachings of childhood will be a guiding and protecting influence in their lives. And those who have a settled faith in a living God, and in divine purposes, are much better prepared to meet the stress of the times, wherever they are, whatever they see. The best time to teach children is the earliest time possible – if we wish them to grow up with healthy minds, wholesome spirits, sincere manners, and clean words.