Child Guidance stands as Ellen G. White's comprehensive manual for Christian parenting, compiled from her extensive writings on raising children for eternity. This 453-page work addresses every facet of child development—from prenatal influences through adolescence—providing timeless principles rooted in Scripture and illuminated by divine insight. White presents the sacred responsibility of parenthood not as a burden but as the highest calling, declaring that 'the work of parents underlies every other' in importance.
The book systematically covers the formation of character from infancy, the critical role of home atmosphere, the balance of love and discipline, and the cultivation of obedience, industry, and moral principle. White challenges the permissive parenting of her day (and ours), insisting that 'indulgence ruins thousands' while proper discipline, administered in love, develops children who will honor God and bless society. She emphasizes that 'the first lessons given to the child should teach him to control himself' and that parents who fail in this duty bear tremendous responsibility.
Practical chapters address specific challenges: managing mealtime battles, choosing appropriate clothing, selecting companions, guiding study habits, and preventing harmful reading. White's counsel on family worship, Sabbath observance, and creating a cheerful home atmosphere provides a blueprint for multigenerational faithfulness. The book concludes with sobering warnings about parental accountability before God, balanced by gracious promises of divine assistance to those who seek wisdom in this holy calling.
This book is indispensable for parents and grandparents seeking biblical principles for raising godly children. It speaks powerfully to those overwhelmed by modern permissive parenting philosophies, offering time-tested wisdom. Teachers, pastors, and youth workers will find rich material for understanding child development and character formation. Young couples preparing for parenthood should study these principles before beginning their sacred work. Anyone struggling with parenting challenges will find both correction and encouragement in White's balanced counsel.
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“The greatest evidence of the power of Christianity that can be presented to the world is a well-ordered, well-disciplined family.”
“Parents, you are sowing seed that will spring up and bear fruit, either for good or evil. As you sow, so shall you also reap.”
“The home should be to the children the most attractive place in the world, and the mother's presence should be its greatest attraction.”
“Never should the child be taught to fear the dark, or to imagine that evil spirits or apparitions will come to him at night.”
“The mother's influence is ever exerting itself, whether for good or for ill. It is silent and unconscious, but nevertheless most powerful.”