Paradise Under Your Feet — Page 47
Chapter 3: Toddler and Preschool Years 47 a habit. Good behavior can be encouraged by giving your child a hug and praising him for following directions. The following advice concerning behavior is given by Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih II (ra) in “ Way of the Seekers ” : Tell the child that it is nice and good. The Holy Prophet (saw) said: Do not curse a child for when you curse, angels add: Let it be like that; and like that he becomes. Incidentally, this also means that angels are responsible for the consequences of actions. When you tell a child, it is bad, it draws an imaginary picture in which it figures itself out as bad and does in fact become bad. Therefore, do not abuse a child. Praise it and teach it to be good. A child should not be allowed to become obstinate. If it persists in being stubborn, its attention should be diverted to something else. Address a child politely and courteously, for a child is a great mimic. If you address it rudely, it will return the compliment in kind. Parents should choose well-behaved children as associates for their children. As the child grows, it should be asked to do small tasks under the guise of play-acting. A child should be allowed to acquire self-confidence as a matter of habit. For instance, if it wants to have an object, which it has just seen, it should be told that it would get it at a certain time. Children should not be told tales of horror as this will make them cowardly. If a child exhibits a tendency towards cowardice, it should be told stories of courage and made to play with children who are brave.