3. How should the new generation be brought up?

First of all, it is impossible to ‘do the right thing’, so make sure that you enjoy bringing up the children! Being a parent can be a daunting experience.

Parenting is arguably the hardest job and the one for which we get no training. Here are ten principles of bringing up the new generation that can guide us in the demanding work of raising children of character.

1. Make Character Development a High Priority

2. Be an Authoritative Parent

3. Love Children

4. Teach by Example

5. Manage the Moral Environment

6. Use Direct Teaching to Form Habits and Conscience

7. Discipline Wisely

8. Solve Conflicts Fairly

9. Provide Opportunities to Practice the Virtues

10. Foster Spiritual Development

Kids will make mistakes growing up, just as we did. That said, it's our job as parents to make the most of the many opportunities we have to help our children become persons of character.

Daunting – пугающий

Arguably - возможно, вероятно

Entails - влечь за собой, вызывать (что-л.)

Implications – последствия

in-the-making - в процессе создания, развития

spouses – супруги

lapse - небольшая ошибка

Virtues - добродетель, достоинство

Chores - повседневная работа по дому, по хозяйству

Foster – стимулировать, воспитывать, обучать

4. Enjoying things is essential to a child’s development

What do the children enjoy? They enjoy everything we can call “a game”: they enjoy really interesting things, they are involved in. Enjoying means real motivation and free will while doing something. Enjoy means being really involved and captured by something. The game is the best example of enjoyment for children. Then why not to make everything important a pleasant game?

The game is the most important activity in the lives of children. Sometimes it seems more important than eating and sleeping. Sometimes play is easy and fun. Sometimes play is trying hard to do something right.

Play is the work, the occupation of childhood. If you study how a child grows, and watch children play, you will understand why play is so important.

When children run, jump, roll, throw, catch, or swing they are building muscles. They burn energy that makes them tired and hungry. Physical play improves strength, endurance, and balance. Body coordination improves when children play in physical ways. Physical play helps children sleep and eat better.

Play is important because children can learn about the meaning of things in the world. Games help children learn what words mean, like "stop" or "go." Play with sand and buckets help children learn what "full" or "empty" means. They learn to collect and use information. They learn about time, art, science, math, music, nature and animals.

Also the game helps children learn about people and interaction. While playing, children will learn to take turns and share. They will act out their feelings, listen and talk to playmates, and follow rules. They will try leading and following. They will start to understand themselves and others. Play helps them know what they like and what they don't like. During play they can pretend what it's like to be someone else, like a firefighter, doctor, mother, or teacher.

It is easier to learn when we are relaxed. We remember things we've done when the things were fun. Even when play is hard, children are excited when they discover that they can control their bodies and actions. "I did it!" means "I feel good about me." Good play offers children success. Play is important because it is practice for being grown-up.

Children at play learn to pay attention and to stick with a job. They learn to face problems and solve them. Play helps them learn what is right and wrong. They learn to be good sports, honest, and not to cheat. Children develop their imagination when they play. They learn to follow directions. All these skills will be important when children become grownups.