Child Guidance Ellen G. White 1954 Copyright © 2018 Ellen G. White Estate, Inc. Information about this Book Overview This eBook is provided by the Ellen G. White Estate. It is included in the larger free Online Books collection on the Ellen G. White Estate Web site. About the Author Ellen G. White (1827-1915) is considered the most widely translated American author, her works having been published in more than 160 languages. She wrote more than 100,000 pages on a wide variety of spiritual and practical topics. Guided by the Holy Spirit, she exalted Jesus and pointed to the Scriptures as the basis of one’s faith. Further Links A Brief Biography of Ellen G. White About the Ellen G. White Estate End User License Agreement The viewing, printing or downloading of this book grants you only a limited, nonexclusive and nontransferable license for use solely by you for your own personal use. This license does not permit republication, distribution, assignment, sublicense, sale, preparation of derivative works, or other use. Any unauthorized use of this book terminates the license granted hereby. Further Information For more information about the author, publishers, or how you can support this service, please contact the Ellen G. White Estate at [email protected]. We are thankful for your interest and feedback and wish you God’s blessing as you read. i ii Foreword As marriage unites two hearts and lives in love, and a new home is created, an early concern of its founders is that the children which grace this new home shall be properly reared. The question of Manoah of old, “How shall we order the child?” is thoughtfully pondered by parents today as they look into the face of the precious and helpless gift entrusted to their care. The significance of instruction on child guidance is best under- stood as we note the important place it takes in the word of God and the frequent and detailed references to the subject in the spirit of prophecy writings. In her several books, but more particularly in the articles on practical Christian living which appeared from week to week in the various journals of the denomination, Mrs. White set forth a wealth of counsel to parents. In addition to this, she addressed to various families hundreds of personal testimonies in which she dealt specifically with the problems they faced. In these articles and personal testimonies she described the principles which should guide parents, and the procedures they should follow as they were kept before her in vision. In her later years Mrs. White expressed a desire to bring out a book for Christian parents that would make clear “The Mother’s Duty And Influence Over Her Children.” In the recently issued The Adventist Home and this companion work, that desire is now fulfilled. Only the thoughtful and prayerful perusal of the significant counsels of this volume can reveal the tremendous and far-reaching influence of training the child properly as God has placed the responsibility with parents. The fact that Ellen White was the mother of four boys enabled [6] her to set forth in an understanding and sympathetic manner the in- struction imparted to her. Her experience in the practical application of the principles she has set before others begets confidence in the heart of the reader. iii All the E. G. White sources, published and unpublished, have been drawn upon in preparing Child Guidance. Because the content of this volume has been brought together from a number of sources written over a period of seventy years, there occasionally occurs an unavoidable break in thought and manner of address as the several statements are linked together in their natural subject sequence. The compilers were limited in their work to the selecting and arranging of the various statements and to the supplying of headings. Child Guidance was prepared under the direction of the board of Trustees of the Ellen G. White publications in their offices in Washington, D.C. The work was done in harmony with Mrs. White’s instruction to her trustees that they should provide for the printing of compilations from her manuscript and published sources. The need for this volume is great. Eternal interests are at stake. The detailed counsels on discipline, character building, and physical and spiritual education will be treasured by every thoughtful par- ent. That this volume, standing by the side of The Adventist Home, Messages to Young People, and other of the E. G. White books of counsel to parents and youth, may serve to guide fathers and mothers in their most important work is the sincere wish of the publishers and The Trustees of the Ellen G. White Publications Contents Information about this Book . .i Foreword ........................................... iii To the Reader . viii Section 1—Home, The First School . .9 Chapter 1—Importance of the Home School . 10 Chapter 2—The First Teachers . 13 Chapter 3—When to Begin the Child’s Training . 17 Section 2—Methods and Textbooks . 19 Chapter 4—Methods of Teaching . 20 Chapter 5—The Bible as a Textbook . 27 Chapter 6—The Book of Nature . 30 Chapter 7—Practical Lessons from Nature’s Book . 36 Section 3—Teachers Adequately Trained . 43 Chapter 8—Preparation is Needed . 44 Chapter 9—A Call for Self-improvement . 50 Section 4—Obedience, The Most Important Lesson . 55 Chapter 10—The Key to Happiness and Success . 56 Chapter 11—To be Taught from Babyhood . 59 Chapter 12—Obedience Must Become a Habit . 61 Section 5—Other Basic Lessons . 65 Chapter 13—Self-control . 66 Chapter 14—Quietness, Respect, and Reverence . 71 Chapter 15—Care in Handling Property . 74 Chapter 16—Health Principles . 76 Chapter 17—Cleanliness . 78 Chapter 18—Neatness, Order, and Regularity . 81 Chapter 19—Purity . 84 Section 6—Lessons in Practical Virtues . 89 Chapter 20—Helpfulness . 90 Chapter 21—Industry . 93 Chapter 22—Diligence and Perseverance. 98 Chapter 23—Self-Denial, Unselfishness, and Thoughtfulness 100 Chapter 24—Economy and Thrift . 103 Section 7—Developing Christian Qualities . 107 v vi Child Guidance Chapter 25—Simplicity . 108 Chapter 26—Courtesy and Reserve . 111 Chapter 27—Cheerfulness and Thankfulness . 113 Chapter 28—Truthfulness . 116 Chapter 29—Honesty and Integrity. 118 Chapter 30—Self-reliance and Sense of Honor . 121 Section 8—The Paramount Task—Character Development . 123 Chapter 31—Importance of Character . 124 Chapter 32—How Character Is Formed . 127 Chapter 33—Parental Responsibility in Character Formation 131 Chapter 34—Ways in Which Character Is Ruined . 136 Chapter 35—How Parents May Build Strong Characters . 143 Section 9—Fundamental Elements of Character Building . 149 Chapter 36—Advantage of the Early Years . 150 Chapter 37—The Power of Habit . 155 Chapter 38—Study Age, Disposition, and Temperament . 159 Chapter 39—The Will a Factor in Success . 163 Chapter 40—Exemplify Christian Principles . 168 Section 10—Discipline and its Administration . 173 Chapter 41—Objectives of Discipline . 174 Chapter 42—The Time to Begin Discipline . 179 Chapter 43—Discipline in the Home . 182 Chapter 44—Administration of Corrective Discipline . 191 Chapter 45—With Love and Firmness . 202 Section 11—Faulty Discipline . 211 Chapter 46—Evils of Indulgence . 212 Chapter 47—Lax Discipline and Its Fruitage . 215 Chapter 48—The Child’s Reaction . 218 Chapter 49—Attitude of Relatives . 225 Section 12—Development of the Mental Powers . 229 Chapter 50—What Comprises True Education? . 230 Chapter 51—Preparing for School . 235 Chapter 52—Choosing the School . 238 Chapter 53—The Church’s Responsibility . 245 Chapter 54—Teachers and Parents in Partnership . 250 Chapter 55—Unity in Discipline . 254 Chapter 56—Academy and College Training . 258 Section 13—Primary Importance of Physical Development . 265 Contents vii Chapter 57—Exercise and Health . 266 Chapter 58—Training for Practical Life . 271 Chapter 59—Teaching Useful Trades . 279 Chapter 60—Knowledge of and Obedience to the Laws of Life.......................................... 283 Section 14—Maintaining Physical Fitness . 291 Chapter 61—The Homemaker in the Kitchen . 292 Chapter 62—Eating to Live . 298 Chapter 63—Temperance in All Things . 310 Chapter 64—The Home and the Temperance Crusade . 316 Section 15—Fitting Attire . 325 Chapter 65—The Blessings of Proper Dress . 326 Chapter 66—Teaching the Fundamental Principles of Dress 331 Chapter 67—The Fascinating Power of Fashion . 341 Section 16—Preserving Moral Integrity . 345 Chapter 68—Prevalence of Corrupting Vices . 346 Chapter 69—Effects of Harmful Practices . 350 Chapter 70—Cautions and Counsels . 354 Chapter 71—Parental Vigilance and Help . 360 Chapter 72—The Battle for Reform . 366 Section 17—Arousing the Spiritual Powers . 371 Chapter 73—Responsibility for Eternal Interests . 372 Chapter 74—Every Home a Church . 379 Chapter 75—Leading Little Children to Christ . 384 Chapter 76—Preparing for Church Membership . 390 Section 18—Maintaining the Religious Experience . 399 Chapter 77—The Bible in the Home . 400 Chapter 78—The Power of Prayer . 409 Chapter 79—Sabbath—The Day of Delight . 417 Chapter 80—Reverence for That Which Is Holy . 425 Chapter 81—Co-Ordination of Home and Church . 433 Section 19—The Day of Reckoning . 437 Chapter 82—The Hour Is Late . 438 Chapter 83—The Rewards . 442 [7] To the Reader It is the privilege of parents to take their children with them to the gates of the city of God, saying, “I have tried to instruct my children to love the Lord, to do His will, and to glorify Him.” To such the gate will be thrown open, and parents and children will enter in. But all cannot enter. Some are left outside with their children, whose characters have not been transformed by submission to the will of God. A hand is raised, and the words are spoken, “You have neglected home duties.