Raising Resilient Children Quotes

1.) "Children are highly vulnerable. They have little or no power to protect or provide for themselves and little influence on so much that is vital to their well-being. Children need others to speak for them, and they need decision makers who put their well-being ahead of selfish adult interests."

(Dallin H. Oaks, Protect the Children, October 2012, http://www.lds.org/)

2.)"Many children would have had the blessing of being raised by both of their parents if only their parents had followed this inspired teaching in the family proclamation: “Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. … Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another.”¹⁶ The most powerful teaching of children is by the example of their parents."

(Dallin H. Oaks, Protect the Children, October 2012, http://www.lds.org/)

3.) "How well children respond to setbacks depends largely on how well their parents helped them develop the attitudes and the skills of resilience."

(Lyle J. Burrup, Raising Resilient Children, March 2013, LDS Family Services, http://www.lds.org)

4.) "As children develop resilience, they believe they can influence and even control outcomes in their lives through effort, imagination, knowledge, and skill. With this attitude, they focus on what they can do rather than on what is outside their control.

Another mark of resilience is to see great purpose and meaning in life and people. A sense of purpose will help our children avoid giving up, in spite of setbacks and pressure to do so. If our children are becoming more resilient, they will develop deep values that guide them: charity, virtue, integrity, honesty, work ethic, and faith in God. They will involve themselves in what is happening around them and opt for commitment to values rather than feel alienated and avoid struggle."

(Lyle J. Burrup, Raising Resilient Children, March 2013, LDS Family Services, http://www.lds.org)

5.) "There are those who dismiss these responsibilities, feeling they can be deferred until the child grows up. Not so, the evidence reveals. Prime time for teaching is fleeting. Opportunities are perishable. The parent who procrastinates the pursuit of his responsibility as a teacher may, in years to come, gain bitter insight into Whittier’s expression: “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, / The saddest are these: ‘It might have been!’ ” ⁶

(Thomas S. Monson, Teach the Children, October 1997, http://www.lds.org)

6.) "Dr. Glenn Doman, a prominent author and renowned scientist, reported a lifetime of research in the statement: “The newborn child is almost an exact duplicate of an empty computer, although superior to such a computer in almost every way. … What is placed in the child’s brain during the first eight years of his life is probably there to stay. If you put misinformation into his brain during this period, it is extremely difficult to erase it.” ⁷

This evidence should provoke a renewal of commitment in every parent: “I must be about my Father’s business.” Children learn through gentle direction and persuasive teaching. They search for models to imitate, knowledge to acquire, things to do, and teachers to please."

(Thomas S. Monson, Teach the Children, October 1997, http://www.lds.org)

7.) "In this revelation the Lord points out that children in their infant state are innocent before God but that Satan takes away light and truth from them because of disobedience and the tradition of their fathers. To prevent this, he commands parents to bring up their children in light and truth." (See D&C 93:38–40.)

(H. Verlan Anderson, Bring up Your Children in Light and Truth, October 1991, http://wwwlds.org)

8.) "When our Heavenly Father sends one of his spirit children into a home, it is as if he says to the parents: “John, Mary, here is my most priceless possession—the soul of a little child. As you can see, he is helpless and completely dependent upon you even for life itself. You are now given the privilege of molding his life as you think best. Please teach him that I am his Father and that Jesus is his Savior and that we want him and you to return and live with us when mortality is over. Remember that I am always available to guide you in rearing this child of ours if you will but seek my help. I hope you will do so often. Your Heavenly Father.”

(H. Verlan Anderson, Bring up Your Children in Light and Truth, October 1991, http://www.lds.org)

9.) "The researchers found a strong relationship between children’s knowledge of family history and various measures of emotional well-being. Children who knew more of their family history had more functional family lives, more self-control, greater feelings of self-worth, and fewer signs of depression or anxiety."

(David Edwards, Want Emotionally Healthy Children? Tell Family Stories, May 30, 2013, http://www.lds.org)

10.) "Dr. Duke listed family travels and mealtimes as important story-sharing times but added, “Given the complexities of modern family life, families can also sit and talk over a snack after school or before everyone goes off to work, or at any other time that they can focus on each other. These gatherings—short or long—are at the heart of the process by which the intergenerational stories can be told and learned and through which children can grow stronger and healthier.”

(David Edwards, Want Emotionally Healthy Children? Tell Family Stories, May 30, 2013, http://www.lds.org)