The most important thing that a parent can do is get a hold of their child's heart. What a child loves will determine what choices he or she makes throughout their lives.
Steve and Teri Maxwell have written a very informative book on the matter. This book shows different ways to not only get your child's heart, but also how to keep it. In keeping our child's heart and guiding that heart in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, we can give our children the best hope and encouragement towards godliness.
You've probably heard the saying "Quality, not quantity". But both things need to be present when gaining your child's heart. Parents who invest time into their children will always see a wonderful return on that investment. Not only should we show them by example, but as a good parent we should also shelter them from negative influences until they are old enough to see them as they really are.
Salvation should be any parents first goal for their child, but equipping that child to be responsible, moral adults who can make a difference in a sinful world should also be a goal. Keeping Our Children's Hearts gives you encouragement on how to lead your child toward positive influences that will give them purpose and direction in life. All these concepts have been backed up with a biblical basis, including Scripture references (KJV).
If you've ever wanted a good, in-depth book on how to direct a child's heart, I recommend this one.
