# Education Child Raising and Nursery **[← Back to Śikṣāmṛta](wiki/compile/siksamrita)** --- ## Parents' Responsibility for Children ![[letters/1967/670609_nandarani|It is the duty of all parents to make every child Krishna Conscious, so that the fortunate child born of Krishna Conscious parents may not have any more to take birth in this material world.]] —Nandarani, 9 June, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/670815_hansadutta|A child is a rare gift given by Krishna, but at the same time a great responsibility; every parent has the responsibility to see that his child grows up K.C. I know that you understand this, and will always make Krishna the center of your home.]] —Hansadutta, 15 August, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680303_hansadutta_himavati|Yes, to be determined that the child will have his last birth into ignorance is very good. It is true that one should become a parent only if he can deliver his ward from the clutches of death. And that is possible only with Krishna Consciousness. This is a very great service for Krishna, to give all opportunity for the child to be trained up in devotional service, and it is very good that you are thinking very seriously on this.]] —Hansadutta and Himavati, 3 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680306_janardana|That is the real purpose of married life; to live together peacefully, execute Krsna consciousness, bring up children in Krsna consciousness, so they will not again have to enter into this world of birth and death.]] —Andrea Temple, 6 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680704_balai|Yes, this is very nice sentiments. All parents should think like that. Maharaja Prahlada, Dhruva Maharaja, they are ideal child devotees and everyone's children should be trained in the ideal of such great personalities.]] —Balai, 4 July, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680715_syamasundara|am so glad to learn that Miss Sarasvati devi is doing very well with her good parents. Please bring her up nicely in Krsna consciousness and that is the duty of responsible parents.]] —Syamasundara, 15 July, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680821_krsna_devi|So the best solution is that we should train all our first-day small babies in such a way that they are always satisfied and there will be no disturbance in the meeting, and there will be no complaint.]] —Krsna devi, 21 August, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680821_subala|I may inform you that all our children born of the Krsna conscious parents are welcome and I want hundreds of children like that. Because in future we expect to change the face of the whole world, because the child is the father of man.]] —Krsna devi, 21 August, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681122_gargamuni|We are trying to educate our disciples to produce Krsna conscious children]] —Gargamuni, 22 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681219_uddhava|we will welcome the arrival of nice Krsna conscious children to carry on this movement for which we are laying the ground.]] —Uddhava, 19 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681224_gurudasa|We are offering people good family life with faithful wives in Krsna consciousness. Similarly, able husbands in Krsna consciousness]] —Gurudasa, 24 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690220_mukunda|My father was very much affectionate, and in my childhood, whatever I wanted from my father he would at once give me. One time he purchased for me one rifle, and so after taking it I demanded that he must give me another.]] —Mukunda, 20 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690227_brahmananda|In my childhood I was a very naughty boy, and I used to catch my father in so many ways demanding unreasonable things, and my father used to satisfy me.]] —Brahmananda, 27 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690621_gurudasa|The father and mother are also as good as the spiritual master, and we are indebted to father and mother in so many ways.]] —Gopala Krsna, 21 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690715_vibhavati|The basic idea of raising children as they are described in the Vedic literature is that from birth until the age of five years the parents may be very lenient with the child.]] —Vibhavati, 15 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690731_lilavati|If such a pious child is trained properly as you and Murari are doing, then surely she will play a very worthy role in our Society]] —Lilavati, 31 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690930_nandarani|If by your endeavor one or two souls who come under your protection become liberated in this life, that is a great transcendental service to the Lord.]] —Nandarani, 30 September, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691027_paramananda|I am so glad to learn that a Krsna conscious male child has been born now. His name should be Premananda Brahmacari. Premananda means one who is always absorbed in love of Krsna. So take care of this nice child and raise him along with the other boys in New Vrndavana, so that a new generation of Krsna conscious children will come out of this movement.]] —Paramananda, 27 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691102_hayagriva_vamanadeva_pradyumna|To raise one soul to Krsna consciousness is counted by Krsna as a very great service, so you do this duty carefully and Krsna will surely bestow His blessings upon you.]] —Krsna Devi, 2 November, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691115_balai|So Krsna has given you a nice daughter to take care of.]] —Balai, 15 November, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700127_acyutananda|I think of Radha-Krsna I think of first the Radha Govinda vigraha of Mullicks Thakurbati because from my very childhood I am devoted to the same Deity]] —Acyutananda, 27 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700621_pradyumna|You and your wife are both intelligent and advanced in devotional science, so work conjointly to raise your son in the best atmosphere of ideal family blessed by Krsna in Krsna consciousness.]] —Pradyumna, 21 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700709_jagadisa|Children learn by imitation of their parents, so if you both set Krsna conscious example the child will very naturally and easily become advanced in Krsna consciousness by following.]] —Jagadisa, 9 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700719_syamasundara|In childhood the impression taken continues lifelong, so try to train little English and Dutch boys to be accustomed to chant and dance.]] —Syamasundara, 19 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/711127_abhirama|You may name your daughter Mitra dasi, I have no objection. You may call your children as you like, but you should always inform my secretary to make sure the name is entered on our list to avoid repetition. Later, the children may be given another name upon initiation, as it is seen fit.]] —Lalita Kumara and Jambavati dasi, 27 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720414_bhavananda|In childhood, my ratha used to go to this temple, so if this is again introduced, it will be again very much appreciated by Radha-Govinda.]] —Bhavananda, 14 April, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720509_bhavananda|In my childhood, Radha-Govindaji were the source of my enjoyment. I asked my father to give me Radha-Govinda Deities and he gave me and I worshipped. And I also asked him to give me ratha]] —Bhavananda, 9 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720910_rsabhadeva|Note give him all facilities to become conscious of Krsna from very birth, and this will be the greatest service for Krsna if you can deliver Him one pure devotee.]] —Rsabhadeva, 10 September, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730218_gurudasa|This was the case in my childhood also. My father was pure Vaisnava and he gave me and my sister the Radha-Krsna Deities to worship and in this way we were trained. And still to this very day my sister is worshiping these very same Deities in Calcutta.]] —Bhaktin Toni, 18 February, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730425_caitanya|Your first consideration must be to see that your children become Krsna conscious, and if your husband will not take this responsibility, then what can be done? Simply you must keep to the principles, and pray to Krsna to help you.]] —(name withheld), 25 April, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731208_madhudvisa|I have met your son. His lovely features are very nice and he appears to be a first-class brahmacari. Always be an example to him by being steadfast in Krsna consciousness and your motherhood will be perfected.]] —Kadamba dasi, 8 December, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/740610_ravindra_svarupa|From my very childhood I was also worshiping Lord Jagannatha. When I was six years old my father gave me a ratha and I was performing the Ratha-yatra in my neighborhood.]] —Ravindra Svarupa, 10 June, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740929_jagadisa|This Ratha-yatra festival is very dear to me from my very childhood days, so I very much appreciate your holding this festival in Chicago.]] —Sri Govinda, 29 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741228_jagadisa|So more and more you are becoming responsible for these living entities who are your dependents. You must see that they do not take birth again in this material world. That is your duty.]] —Jagadisa, 28 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750314_mr._dennany._dennany._dennany|Regarding your young boy, do not be sorry because he is a little mischievous. This is only natural for a young boy. It is not anything unusual. Pray to Krsna that he may become a great preacher and try yourself to train him for that by being Krsna conscious mother.]] —Sivani devi dasi, 14 March, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751019_kartikeya_k._mahadevia._mahadevia._mahadevia|Please accept my blessings and offer the same to your wife, Gauridevi, and your children. I am enclosing herewith some foreign stamps for your beloved son, Kirtana.]] —Kartikeya, 19 October, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751110_bahudak|As a child when I was going to the neighboring Mullick temple, I was thinking then, 'When will I have such a nice Deity to worship and now Krsna is so kind that I am establishing so many nice temples all over the world.']] —Madhudvisa Swami, 10 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1977/770316_minakshi|I also had the good fortune to have a devotee father and mother and when I was young they gave me Radha-Krsna to worship and I was also performing Ratha-yatra festival with my young friends.]] —Minaksi, 16 March, 1977 --- ## Children's Nursery ![[letters/1969/690330_satyabhama|No, I do not think you should give Jagannatha to small children because they will not take proper care and make offenses.]] —Satyabhama, 30 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700124_ekendra|I am so pleased to learn that you are studying arithmetic so quickly. Five plus five is equal to ten. Two plus two is equal to four. So Krsna plus everything is Vrndavana. Do not forget Krsna, and you shall always be in Vrndavana.]] —Ekendra, 24 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710925_saradia|how the Deity will be kept from being mishandled or kept in a dirty place or even thrown away at the whim of the child? You cannot always check her. Therefore to such a small child the Deity of Lord Jagannatha should not be given.]] —Saradiya devi, 25 September, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711117_himavati|Children especially are inclined to appreciate Krsna's pastimes, so begin by reading to them from Krsna book.]] —Himavati, 17 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720228_satyabhama|we train our children in Krsna consciousness, just keeping them always attending our regular program and associating with Krsna devotees]] —Satyabhama, 28 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720520_dayananda|And small children, they learn better these things from their mother and women in general.]] —Dayananda, 20 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720616_satsvarupa|The women are best for teaching small children, especially if they are themselves mothers, and when they become brahmacaris at 5 or 6 years old then they may be instructed by the men.]] —Satsvarupa, 16 June, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720730_arundhati|I am simply surprised that you want to give up your child to some other persons, even they are also devotees. For you, child-worship is more important than Deity-worship. If you cannot spend time with him, then stop the duties of pujari.]] —Arundhati, 30 July, 1972 --- ![[letters/1975/751017_cyavana|The idea of the nursery school is very good idea.]] —Ramesvara dasa, 17 October, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751120_ghanasyama|The nursery school program is very good. That is good that the mothers are being freed to increase their devotional service. It is not that women should only produce children, but they are meant for advancing in devotion.]] —Jayatirtha dasa, 20 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760402_v.g.k._dipple.g.k._dipple.g.k._dipple|So far Himavati's engagement is concerned, she is organizing the nursery here in Vrndavana for the young children.]] —Hansadutta Maharaja, 2 April, 1976 --- ## Children in Krsna Consciousness ![[letters/1947-1965/651113_sally|Generally the son acquires the qualities of the mother and the daughter acquires the qualities of the father. And such children become happy in life.]] —Sally, 13 November, 1965 --- ![[letters/1968/680528_malati|the child who is coming in your family is supposed to have executed Krsna consciousness in his previous life.]] —Malati, 28 May, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681015_cidananda|I understand that the son of Tulasi Devi, Karnapura, has chosen coins in his anna-prasana ceremony. It is very nice. I think this boy will earn enough money for spreading Krsna consciousness.]] —Cidananda, 15 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681211_nandakisora|we require so many Krsna conscious children to show how nicely and beautifully a child can develop when he is following the principles of God consciousness.]] —Nandakisora, 11 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690721_balai|Regarding your question about the ceremony of offering Srimad-Bhagavatam and some coins to your child, yes, this may be done.]] —Balai, 21 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1975/750904_gatravan|I am in due receipt of your telegram regarding the baby born to Rama Prasada. So far the name is concerned you can call him Bhaktivardhana dasa. All my blessings are there for the child so that he may become a pure Vaisnava. I hope this meets you in good health.]] —Madhudvisa Swami, 4 September, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751110_bahudak|I note that your wife has given birth to one girl child. Are all your other children also dasi's or do you have any dasa's? We want more dasa's than dasi's.]] —Bahudaka dasa, 10 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1977/770316_minakshi|You are very fortunate to have devotee parents and from your very childhood taken to Krsna consciousness.]] —Minaksi, 16 March, 1977 --- ## Child Discipline ![[letters/1969/690323_himavati|Keep Narottama dasa very nicely. He is a very good boy, sometimes he is attracted by maya but this is not a very unusual thing. So kindly try to protect this boy as much as possible, and when you come to New York he may also come so that I may see him again.]] —Himavati, 23 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1972/720412_niranjana|So far my chastising you at Mayapur for your questions it is simply out of love that I chastise any of my students.]] —Niranjana, 12 April, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720515_giriraja|Obedience is the first law of discipline.]] —Giriraja, 15 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721118_rupa_vilasa|children should not be beaten at all, that I have told. They should simply be shown the stick strongly. So if one cannot manage in that way then he is not fit as teacher.]] —Bhanutanya dasi, 18 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721118_rupa_vilasa|You may show the stick, threaten, but better art is to somehow or other, even by tricking them, avoid this matter of force and induce them to obey out of loving spirit.]] —Rupa-vilasa, 18 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721210_brahmanya_tirtha|if they become naughty we may show the stick but we should never use it. Child is nonsense, so you can trick him to obey you by making some little story and the child will become cheated in the proper behavior. But never apply force]] —Brahmanya Tirtha, 10 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1976/760109_vishambhar|sometimes pressure is required, especially when one is not so advanced. Of course it has to be applied properly, otherwise there may be some bad taste. But spontaneous service can only be expected from advanced devotees. Just like a child by pressure goes to school and is made to read.]] —Tusta Krsna Maharaja, 9 January, 1976 --- ## Children Playing ![[letters/1969/690731_lilavati|It is not unusual that a little child is often very jolly, but in the material situation this jolliness passes very quickly.]] —Lilavati, 31 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1971/710817_locana|Our Krsna consciousness children are not very much after toys and playthings. They are given from the very beginning beads and they are happy chanting in that way.]] —Locana dasa, 17 August, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720613_stokakrsna|The children should always be instructed by taking advantage of their playful mood and teaching them to play Krsna games like become cowherd boys, cows, peacocks, demons]] —Stoka Krsna, 13 June, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720616_satsvarupa|1. Simply think of Krishna always]] —Satsvarupa, 16 June, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720616_satsvarupa|3. offer Krishna worship]] —Satsvarupa, 16 June, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720616_satsvarupa|As soon as they begin playing they will be inspired, only one has to direct how to play, that's all.]] —Satsvarupa, 16 June, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720730_giriraja|teach the small children to play Krsna games: one child is a cow, another is cowherd boy, they go to the forest, there are demons there, Krsna kills the demons, like that]] —Giriraja, 30 July, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721118_rupa_vilasa|They should run and play when they are small children, not forced to chant japa, that is not the way.]] —Bhanutanya dasi, 18 November, 1972 --- ## Children's Health and Diet ![[letters/1970/700503_lilavati|am glad to learn that the children are feeling very well in open atmosphere, so let them enjoy life for some time.]] —Lilavati, 3 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/711009_satsvarupa|They must have sufficient quantity of milk and then dal, capatis, vegetables, and a little fruit will keep them always fit. There is no need of luxurious fatty foods but milk is essential.]] —Satsvarupa, 9 October, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711127_lalita_kumar_jambavati|You ask if children may be taken to ordinary medical doctors. Why not? Of course we do not always trust that these doctors may be doing the right thing, but what can be done?]] —Lalita Kumar and Jambavati dasi, 27 November, 1971 --- ## Children's Books ![[letters/1968/680528_malati|Yes, to make a Krsna conscious coloring book for children is a very good idea for serving and for spreading Krsna consciousness to the young children. Please do it. I will give you hints how to do it; just let me know when you are ready to begin. It will be a great service.]] —Malati, 28 May, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681227_satyabhama|If you want to write books for children, story books about Krsna's pastimes, I shall give you nice hints and Hamsaduta and Himavati can help you with nice pictures.]] —Satyabhama, 27 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690324_satyabhama|Yes, the idea of beginning children's books for our school at New Vrndavana is very nice...I shall give you instructions how to do it nicely.]] —Satyabhama, 24 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690330_satyabhama|And you will have ample opportunity to educate children and write books for them because there is sufficient matter for publishing such books from the Puranas, Mahabharata, Srimad-Bhagavatam and many other allied literatures.]] —Satyabhama, 30 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700314_satyabhama|Regarding the condensation of Krsna book, I have read it and it is very nice. Try to work on it as time permits; and in the meantime, you can have some xerox copies made, then later on we shall find opportunity to print it.]] —Satyabhama, 14 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700315_ekayani|Yes, you can make nice children's books and in this connection you can correspond with Satyabhama who is already working on a condensed version of Krsna book.]] —Ekayani, 15 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700719_yogesvara|I am very glad to know that you have got the experience and talent as well as the desire to write Krsna conscious children's books.]] —Yogesvara, 19 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700719_syamasundara|Regarding your program for the grammar schools, Yogesvara wants to write some books for children. So let him write and introduce them in the schools. If nice pictures are inserted the]] —Syamasundara, 19 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700725_ekayani|Yes, it is very good work that you are doing by making children's books on Krsna conscious subject matter. We have got so many children now]] —Ekayani dasi, 25 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701004_yogesvara|I think this book is meant for somewhat older children, about ten to fifteen years. We are also immediately requiring some books for much younger children, say five to ten years age.]] —Yogesvara, 4 October, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701004_yogesvara|So go on writing more books; we need many such books for distributing to the public schools as well as for our own schools]] —Yogesvara, 4 October, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710127_satyabhama|Yes, you may write some of the stories in simplified version for the children. That is very nice.]] —Satyabhama devi dasi, 27 January, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710612_yogesvara|Yes, these children's books are very important because our next program is to start children's schools in all our centers.]] —Yogesvara, 12 June, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711228_bali-mardana-mardana-mardana|proposal to make a series of smaller books is approved by me. It is very nice. That will help in teaching the young children also.]] —Bali Mardan, 28 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1973/731213_beharilal|In our childhood days we were reading one book. Folk Tales of Bengal. It was very widely read, especially by children. So why not introduce the Krsna book for the same purpose?]] —Tamala Krsna Goswami, 13 December, 1973 --- ![[letters/1977/770331_lilavati|Our books must remain as they are. Do not waste your time any more with such attempts. We are not going to publish it. Whatever books we have got, let them try to understand]] —Lilavati dasi, 31 March, 1977