Few parents begin early enough to teach their children to obey. The child is usually allowed to get two or three years the start of its parents, who forbear to discipline it, thinking it too young to learn to obey. But all this time self is growing strong in the little being, and every day makes harder the parent’s task of gaining control. At a very early age children can comprehend what is plainly and simply told them, and by kind and judicious management can be taught to obey. Never should they be allowed to show their parents disrespect. Self-will should never be permitted to go unrebuked. The future well-being of the child requires kindly, loving, but firm discipline. {CT 111.3}

Få forældre begynder tidligt nok at med at undervise deres børn i lydighed. Barnets forældre giver sædvanligvis barnet lov at vente to eller tre år. Og forældrene bærer over med at opdrage det, tror at det er for ungt til at lære at adlyde. Men i hele denne tid vokser selvet sig stærkt i det lille væsen, og gør forældrenes opgave vanskeligere at få (112) kontrol. I en meget tidlig alder kan børn fatte hvad der siges tydeligt og klart til dem, og ved venlig og skønsom ledes ledelse oplæres det til at adlyde. De bør aldrig have lov at vise deres forældre respektløshed. Egenviljen bør aldrig forblive uirettesat. Barnets fremtidige velbefindende kræver, venlig, elskelig men fast disciplin.