An Important Principle in the upbringing of a Child

Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned:

A person once mentioned to me an important principle in the upbringing of a child. I found much wisdom in it and I feel that it is such an important principle that it is worthy of being inscribed in gold. He said that if a child asks for something and you wish to give it to him, then give it to him at the first instance. However, if you refuse him at the first instance, then after refusing, despite how much the child persists asking for it, do not give it to him. If you do not adopt this method and give in to the demands of the child whenever he persists, then the child will get spoilt and this bad habit will be formed in him that he will feel that whenever he wants something in life, he should go on persisting till he gets it. (Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 10/343)