Parents should regard as their proper mission the task of transmitting human life and educating those to whom it has been transmitted.
Gaudium et Spes 50
Where should children be learning the most valuable information during their youth? This question could bring about answers like school, the playground, or maybe Church, but I would like readers to look at another place: the home. Since every child spends the most time around his or her parents and family members it makes sense that the most valuable education should take place between family members and their children. Gaudium et Spes sees a codependent relationship between children and family members in the sense that children, “contribute in their own way to making their parents holy” (Gaudium et Spes 48) but children can only contribute if they are brought up with strong values as discussed in our other posts. Children can not only become valuable members of the family dynamic they are vital for families to reach their maximum potential. For children to know their worth and how they can contribute within their family they must be properly educated by the family. It is only then that children are able to blossom and help out parents the way that Gaudium et Spes suggests.
As a psychology major, I have researched various studies dealing with attachment theories with children. The way parents treat their children in their youth creates the tendencies for how that child will act when they mature. So, it becomes even more important from both a psychological and theological perspective for education from the family to become a top priority within the home.
Parents are setting the example for their children. Whether it is how to hold a relationship, how to communicate with others, or how to approach faith life children absorb everything that their parents preach to them so I plead with parents and other family members to be a positive influence on every child because it could be the difference of how they turn out in the future.
The Church's Take on Family 
I agree with your opinions of children in the family and I think its important for parents to recognize the beauty and importance of the role of their home for their children. So much happens during childhood that you primary source of learning when you are young is from your parents. I think it’s also important to note in this that people are not perfect and there is no perfect way to raise children. I think there is a lot of pressure on parents to be perfect and raise their children the perfect way. However, I think that mistakes and slip ups are normal but its important to just try your hardest and lean on Christ.
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It is definitely so important to educate our youth. Many people do not realize that home life is often times what shapes people the most. It is a parent’s job not only to bring life into the world but also to teach the child how to have a positive influence on the world. I find it intriguing that you mentioned the attachment theory. I also learned about this theory in my psychology class and I think it has a very important job in explaining why people develop in certain ways. I feel that the attachment theory can also relate to the psychology of religion – Can God just as much fulfill the criteria of an attachment figure?
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I especially liked the video about attachment which you included in your article on educating the youth. Parenting is such a huge job at all ages! It is incredible to me how big the first few years of a child’s life can influence the rest of that person’s life and the way they interact with others and see themselves.
I also like that you attached the video because you mentioned that you study Psychology, and therefore you are using your knowledge in another area to bring a new, corresponding perspective to the Theology present in Gaudium et Spes.
Children need healthy families. Good families should not be luxuries– they are necessities for healthy individuals and therefore a healthy society. If such a little thing like attachment has such a big impact on children’s lives, how many things there must be of which families should be aware and in which they should be supported in undertaking by the community.
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I definitely agree with the role of education in the family, however do you think that our parents are the most important people we learn from? I definitely have learned a lot from my parents but not too much of it has involved content that has to do with my future career so are their others that can teach us as well or even better than our parents can?
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People usually learn the most from the people they interact with the most, so children will learn the most from their families. Not only that, but since the years of early childhood have perhaps the greatest impact on the rest of their lives, it is vital that families, especially parents, are good role models for children and teach them well. These children are our future, so we must prepare them to be so.
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