Spirit of Prophecy
An introduction to the writings of Ellen G. White — the lesser light pointing to the greater light, the Word of God.
Child Guidance
Overview
Child Guidance is Ellen G. White's comprehensive compilation of counsel on the raising and training of children -- a companion volume to The Adventist Home. Where The Adventist Home addresses the whole family, Child Guidance focuses squarely on the sacred work of parenting, from infancy through the teen years. It covers the essentials of character building -- purity, cheerfulness, self-control, reverence, respect, honesty, cleanliness, and courtesy -- along with practical guidance on how to mold the will without breaking the spirit, reinforce good habits, teach self-denial, evoke true penitence without resentment, and conduct meaningful family worship. Its central conviction is that the mother and father are God's appointed teachers, and the home the first and most important school a child will ever attend.
Purpose & Background
This volume was prepared to gather Ellen White's rich counsel on parenting into one practical guide for fathers and mothers. The compilers believed the need for such a book was great and that eternal interests are at stake in the training of children. Standing alongside The Adventist Home and Messages to Young People, it was designed to help parents fulfill what Ellen White regarded as their most important work -- shaping the characters of their children for this life and for eternity.
Best For
Parents at every stage, expectant mothers and fathers, grandparents, and anyone involved in raising or teaching children. Its practical, character-focused chapters make it one of the most useful resources for family life, and a natural companion to The Adventist Home for those studying Christian parenting.
Publisher
Review and Herald Publishing Association
Child Guidance was compiled under the direction of the board of trustees of the Ellen G. White Publications in Washington, D.C., and first published in 1954, decades after Ellen White's death. Drawing on her published and unpublished writings across some seventy years, the compilers selected and arranged the statements and supplied the section headings, with full source credits at the close of each chapter. It is organized into nineteen sections.
Contents
Child Guidance is organized into nineteen sections covering every aspect of raising children. The main areas are grouped below. The complete section-by-section and chapter-by-chapter text is available free at the read link.
- The Home and the Parents -- the importance of the home, the parents' responsibility, and their example
- Early Foundations -- the training of the very young and the crucial early years
- Molding the Character -- discipline, the will, obedience, self-control, and the formation of right habits
- Building Blocks of Character -- purity, honesty, reverence, respect, cheerfulness, cleanliness, and courtesy
- Health and Development -- physical care, diet, dress, recreation, and healthful living for children
- Mental and Spiritual Training -- education, the choice of reading and companions, and leading children to Christ
- Preparing for Service -- family worship, teaching usefulness, and equipping children for a life of service and for eternity