I like Rousseau’s approach on how to handle children and their habits. He stated, “The only habit the child should be allowed to contract is that of having no habit” (3). I agree with him because often, many parents tend to over dominate their child’s life, therefore spoiling and shielding them from making mistakes. What was thought to protect the child, will eventually end up harming them. Rousseau’s method was to let the child touch, learn, and experience things on their own. Rousseau stated, “Do not check these movements which teach him invaluable lessons” (4). For instance, if they are curious about a hot stove and they touch it, they will burn themselves and therefore learn to never touch it again. However, if the parent constantly warns the child to not touch the stove, they would not know why and the consequences of touching the stove. 

Rousseau continued on to children until the age of twelve. He stated, “The most dangerous period in human life lies between birth and the age of twelve” (9). At this critical period, children are prone to errors so he suggested the mind to be left undisturbed until it is developed. Consequently, Rousseau did not put a strong emphasis on education during this young period of time. He stated, “It consists, not in teaching virtue or truth, but in preserving the heart from vice and from the spirit of error” (9). I agree with Rousseau and believe that education should not be so strongly emphasized in the beginning stages of your childhood. We should not be forced to memorize facts but rather, learn more about ethics and morals to better improve ourselves and become better people. Then, after you have the right mentality, you can learn all the knowledge in school.