The Sacred Duty of Parental Supervision and Guidance

Parents must never leave their children alone without a restraining influence, especially on the Sabbath, as it is a grave mistake to allow young and unconverted children to be diverted from right subjectsSLH 135.4. It is the sacred duty of parents to exercise faithful supervision, for a child left to himself will eventually bring his mother to shame Proverbs 29:15SITI November 3, 1887, page 664.5. Leaving children to their own choices in the hope that they will "know better" when they are older is a dangerous error; instead, they must be watched, guarded, and disciplined with skill and patient effortRH April 6, 1897, par. 13+1. Mothers, in particular, should shield their children from corrupting associates and never allow them to lodge in the same room as young companions without their direct presenceCG 460.2. Furthermore, it is a cruelty to let Satan take possession of a child through a lack of correction; parents must be faithful and true in dispossessing the child of a satanic spirit through prayer and perseveranceRH April 14, 1885, par. 3.

...hildren alone on the Sabbath (especially if they are young and unconverted, and lack self-control), without any restraining influence, and enjoy the privileges of the Lord’s house, and preach the Sabbath to others? How can those who feel that they need all the help which is received on the Sabbath to obey God, leave their tender children who need more help than they, where a thousand things will divert their minds from right subjects, and lead them to violate the ...— SLH 135.4 (1864)

...son for all these directions is given in the following: “The rod and reproof give wisdom; but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” Chap. 29:15. Yet, evidently true as this is, there are to-day many parents who leave their children to themselves, and the inevitable consequence follows—the parents are brought to shame. Nor is it alone that many children are left to themselves, but we have seen parents who would actually advocate the principle of so doing, some pleading that they could not bear to punish “the dear little things,” and others who seemingly expected to fulfill with the rod the whole course of training, saying that whipping did no good, and both classes saying, “Just let the child alone till he gets older, and then he will know better and do better of his own choice.” So they leave the child to himself, and he brings his mother to shame. How can it be otherwise? How shall the child know better when h...— SITI November 3, 1887, page 664.5

Children should be watched and guarded and disciplined faithfully. It requires skill and patient effort to mold the young in the right manner. Certain evil tendencie...— RH April 6, 1897, par. 13 (1851)

Shield them, as faithful mothers should, from becoming contaminated by associating with every young companion. Keep them, as precious jewels, from the corrupting influence of this age. If you are situated so that their intercourse with young associates cannot always be overruled, as you would wish to have it, then let them visit your children in your presence; and in no case allow these associates to lodge in the same bed or even in the same room. It will be far easier to prevent an evil than to cure it afterward...— CG 460.2 (1954)

...rent believe that it would be cruelty to correct that child; whereas just the opposite is true; and it is the greatest cruelty to let Satan have the possession of that tender, helpless child. Satan must be rebuked. His hold on the child must be broken. If correction is needed, be faithful, be true. The love of God, true pity for the child, will lead to the faithful discharge of duty. The parent is to pray that God will send divine aid to combine with human effort to drive back Satan. The sweet spirit of submission which Jesus alone can bestow, should be employed; but the parent must not leave the Lord to do all the work. The Lord has left something for the parent to do. Let not perversity of spirit or passion control ...— RH April 14, 1885, par. 3 (1851)