The Education of Children

"The Education of Children" by Desiderius Erasmus is a 16th-century philosophical piece that highlights how important it is to raise children with good morals and knowledge from when they are very young. Erasmus, a famous Renaissance thinker, shares his ideas on how kids grow mentally and morally, speaking to parents and teachers about what they should do. Right from the beginning, the book argues that educating children carefully when they are small is key to shaping who they become as people and how they think. He disagrees with the idea that young kids are too immature to learn important things, saying that kids' minds are open to learning and should be taught the right things right away. He urges parents to carefully pick good teachers and to be involved in their children's learning, explaining that taking care of both their bodies and minds is most important to mold them into becoming good, well-rounded people. By using examples like comparing kids to animals and growing plants, Erasmus shows that starting early and using good methods sets kids up for a successful life, which is good for their families and the whole world.