Walking down Elm Street on a Friday afternoon are Tom and his three friends. They just got out of school and are looking forward to their daily activities. These activities consist of breaking windows, smashing mailboxes, and anything that was destructive.
On the other side of the street are Joe and his three friends. They too just got out of school. They are on their way to the gym to play some basketball then to their homes, where they will study and spend time with their family.
These two groups of kids have totally different lifestyles. Tom and his friends are out getting into trouble, setting themselves up for a bad life. Joe and his friends, on the other hand, are getting in shape, learning, and setting themselves up for a good future.
Children may be guided in the right direction or the wrong direction depending on how their parents teach them. We are stewards over our children to prepare them to become adults (Helaman 14:30). This saying comes from Mormonism beliefs on life. It is saying that the parents of children are there to guide them until they become adults. This guiding may be brought forth in a few different ways.
Many of the activities that children do are a direct result of parenting habits. Parents have a great deal of influence on their children. Kids observe what is going on and often copy or imitate that same thing. No wonder we are so much like our parents. Parental support, influence, rules, and set expectations in the life of a child are a must, in order for that child to get off on the right track.
Parents have a major role in the life of their child. They make rules, set standards, and draw the lines on what is right and what is wrong. When a child does something wrong, their parents usually tell them that they have done badly. In some cases disciplinary action in the form of grounding, spanking, or limiting is given. This is always good to do, in order for kids to learn.