There are particular difficulties for children from Christian homes when they start school. They find themselves shuttling between two different worlds. At home they learn Christian values, much of which are entirely different from what they hear from their peers at school. This presents a dilemma to the parents, and a dichotomy to the children. On the school side it may stem from certain unacceptable forms of education in respect of sex or evolution, and possibly the lower standards of morals practised by other children.
There is also the ever‑present problem of Television. Some children reach an early maturity for their age in spiritual matters, and they are able to cope with all these situations. The strong characters are ready to stand up and be counted. They know what they believe. For others however it can be a traumatic and confusing time. What can parents do?
With all the advantages of Sunday School, Junior Church and weekday activities, parents must realise that the home still makes the greatest influence on the child, and in the book of Deuteronomy, the Israelite parent was instructed to have God's Word in his heart, and to diligently teach it to his children, going on to say, "and talk of God's Word in thine house".
There is an interesting illustration in the book of Exodus about the way the parents of Moses acted when he was a baby. They were aware that in the person of Pharaoh, there was an evil power seeking the life of their child, so they decided to hide him. You could call that a 'good hiding'.
When we talk about a sheltered life, we usually think of a child being brought up in a restrictive atmosphere; the results of which can give an unbalanced view of life. It sometimes does more harm than good, so the hiding must be in a subtle but positive way. It will certainly include prayer and it will bring in other things. One of the greatest gifts a parent can give to a child is time. Time to listen to them and play with them. Time to discuss problems and happenings at school without being judgemental or censorious; and one of the best ways of educating the young is to answer their questions honestly as soon as they are asked.
Some scheme should also be devised to monitor the child's friends and their television viewing, sometimes by watching with the child false values and obvious wrong‑doing can be corrected as they happen. Appropriate protests or commendations to the TV company can also show the child how seriously these things are taken.