Ways of developing children's character part 1

Role of the example

Modeling parents
Happy the child in whom such words as these awaken love and gratitude and trust;
the child to whom the tenderness and justice and long-suffering of father and mother
and teacher interpret the love and justice and long-suffering of God; the child who by
trust and submission and reverence toward his earthly protectors learns to trust and
obey and reverence his God. He who imparts to child or pupil such a gift has
endowed him with a treasure more precious than the wealth of all the ages--a
treasure as enduring as eternity. (White, Ed, p.245).
-

children imitate parental behavior

The relationship between parents perhaps has more to do with what we call
lifestyle of the family than with any other aspect of parental behavior. If there is
tolerance, respect and attachment between parents, all children will tend to
reflect these characteristics in their personality and their relationship to each
other.

White, 5T, 319-320).

Jesus Christ, the perfect model
- Spirit of Prophecy: Human soul will never know happiness until you will be
subject to be shaped by the Spirit of

God. The Spirit fits the renewed soul to the

model Jesus Christ (White, Review and Herald, 73, No.34, August 25,1896:387).
- Bible: 1 Peter 2:21; John 13:15; 1 Cor.1:11; Rom.14:7; 1 Cor.11:1; 1 Tim.4:12; 2
Cor.3:18; 1 John 2:6
Instruction
In the home
- Spiritul Profetic: ... Obligation falls on parents to provide physical training, mental
and spiritual. Must be objective of every parent to ensure his child a well balanced
character, symmetric ... You must start from a proper basis to build a strong and stable
platform, and Then, day after day, to proceed with the work of building, cleaning and
processing (White, Sfaturi pentru profesori, p. 103).
- Bible: Deut 6:6,7; Prov 22:6; Matt 5:19.
In nature

Since the Sabbath is the memorial of creative power, it is the day above all others
when we should acquaint ourselves with God through His works. In the minds of the
children the very thought of the Sabbath should be bound up with the beauty of
natural things.... By such associations parents may bind their children to their
hearts, and thus to God, by ties that can never be broken. (White, Ed, p. 251).
To the little child, not yet capable of learning from the printed page or of being
introduced to the routine of the schoolroom, nature presents an unfailing source of
instruction and delight.... The unseen is illustrated by the seen. On everything upon
the earth, from the loftiest tree of the forest to the lichen that clings to the rock,
from the boundless ocean to the tiniest shell on the shore, they may behold the
image and superscription of God. (White, Ed, p. 100).
Lessons from nature:
-

Laws control nature and laws control our lives. Only in obedience can we find true
happiness.

Law Mission - each created thing has a purpose - everyone contributes to the lifeworld and thus ensure a
on his own.

Sowing faith.

Germination of spiritual life.

The effect follows cause.

Life after death.

Trust.

Independence.

God's care for his creatures.

Adaptation and color protective guards are some of the creations of God.

After the model of Jesus

Matei 7:28,29.
1. Jesus taught by word and deed, through illustrative stories and questions. Lessons
had their introduction, contents and conclusion.
2. Jesus used the actual illustrations, bringing together a statement of general
principle a concrete example. Figures of speech makes clear its true even for the
less educated.
3. He was a great narrator of stories. His stories were simple, action-packed and had
a definite purpose.

4. He put good questions, making it so that his listeners to consider before finding
the truth.
5. Jesus' teaching experience was in the same plane with his listeners.
6. He taught what was essential. He took great principles of each thing and made
them clear.
7. Jesus always carries his lessons to a definite conclusion.
8. Jesus taught both by what he did and by what he said.
9. Jesus was the personification of all that learning, the example of a perfect life.