I want to raise a good child, and I am worried that I could be too child-centered. Gayle Peterson Gayle Peterson, MSSW, PhD is a family therapist specializing in prenatal and family development.
Religious education can be useful in teaching our children moral values.
However, we must be cautious of the underlying beliefs about any child rearing philosophy that claims to be backed by God. Basic beliefs in good and evil can be overly simplistic in their interpretation. Strategies that encourage good behavior in small children can also backfire in adolescence. If the evolvement of strong moral fiber in our children is the issue, we must take a much deeper look into our own beliefs. Early training, then, becomes necessary to ward off the basic evil in human nature, or at least in the particular child which presents a struggle to the parent.