Raising Christian Children

What are the demands on a Christian parent?  How are we to bring up our children as Christians? The main thing is to act like Christians ourselves.


Here is some wisdom from Elder Paisios.

Parents must live like true Christians and be careful of their behavior.  Children are like computers; since a very early age, they register in their minds everything they see, or hear happening in their homes.  If they see their father and mother quarreling, cursing and using bad language, they record everything in their mind's tape.  So, when they grow older, they start cursing and quarreling using their parents language.  They behave this way, without really wanting to, but because they have inherited the pathetic behavior of their parents. Later on, when they realize their mistakes, they find it difficult to correct them.

As a parent every action you take is important when you raise children.  It is not necessarily what you say but how you act that teaches them the Orthodox way of life.  It's essential to show them the virtues as well as the way to practice their faith  Parents should pray with their children, attend Church regularly, participate with them in the sacraments, especially Confession and Holy Communion.  A parent's habit becomes the child's habit.  This is the way to raise Christian children.


Reference: Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain, p 124