Advise on Raising Children

Help children to see and love the beautiful.

To develop self-reliance and strength,
a child should have as much liberty as possible,
as much as is consistent with the rights of others.

She should be treated with respect,
not laughed at when she makes mistakes
or tries to show off before visitors.

Let us not nag the poor little things.

As early as possible,
children should have tasks assigned to them
that they may be led to feel that mankind must work
and that even small children may help a little.

The habitual tone of a mother should be
suggestions rather than commands.

We can praise their work, say that it is well-done,
lovely, or beautiful, if we can do so truthfully*

I sincerely believe it would be a wise thing never to threaten.

The most important thing, then,
in training a child is to surround him,
to fill his life, with what is good.


-From Clara Ueland’s 1890 paper “Child Discipline”
Presented to the Mother’s Council in Minneapolis