Walking the Line

Question: Where is the line between sheltering your child & educating them on the evils of the world?

Answer: The line between sheltering and teaching depends on the age and maturity of the child. Some children are more sensitive than others and should be exposed more gradually to the truth of the world. However, whether we like it or not,  wise parents must keep in mind that children will also be exposed to worldly things at school and at church. In the meantime, try to always keep the lines  of communication open, so your child feels comfortable coming to you and asking about what they encounter or don't understand in the world. No matter the age, use every opportunity and every question your child has to teach them biblical principles. As the child matures, he or she will be exposed to more and more, so never stop teaching about good and evil.  

There are always two extremes to avoid: allowing too much exposure too soon, and the opposite extreme of keeping a child in a bubble. Evil exists in the world, and kids need to learn that truth early on. However, that doesn't mean that your child will be ready to handle all the details of evil at the time. Wait until the child is older, and teach them the details of evil when the child is mature enough to handle it.  The Bible warns that there are things that we should not even talk about, and even mature adults should not dwell on those things (Ephesians 5:11-13).  Through wisdom, prayer, discernment, seeking God's Word, knowledge of one's own children and their personality types, and godly counsel from others more spiritually mature, all of these can help a parent to gauge when to say what and when not to.