Parenting and Family
Can teaching right and wrong wait until a young child grows up?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
Do not continually wait. Young children do not understand everything, but parents can already explain gradually what is and is not acceptable. There is no need to rush to judge how much one occasion taught. Let daily life provide understanding bit by bit.
If nothing was previously forbidden or guided, suddenly declaring it wrong may confuse a child: why was it allowed before but not now? Build concepts gradually from childhood rather than urgently trying to reverse established habits all at once.
Parents’ own actions matter. Teaching sincerity and keeping promises while often failing to act on words makes those teachings hard to trust. Everyday example and clear explanations help children learn from real life.
I used the saying about stealing melons as a child and cattle as an adult. This does not mean every small mistake inevitably becomes a large crime. It means excusing youth without explaining why an act is wrong may leave the original deviation intact. Understanding children and teaching discernment can go together.