Instructing Children part 2 vol.4, no. 33
Even though children below the age of bar and bas mitzvah are not obligated in mitzvos their parents are obligated to prevent them from transgressing prohibitions.1
For example if one hears his child speaking loshon harah (derogatory speech ) he is required to stop the child. He should explain to his child that loshon harah is prohibited by the Torah. He may also want to elaborate on the negative results of loshon harah in order to give his child a proper perspective on the prohibition. This applies if the child is of an age that he can understand the concept that some things are prohibited.2
According to some halachic authorities it is the responsibility of any adult to prevent a child from transgressing a Biblical prohibition.3 This applies if the child has reached the age of chinuch (instruction) which is approximately five or six years old.
All adults are not allowed to make a child transgress a prohibition. For example he may not feed a child non-kosher food. This applies even if the child is below the age of Torah instruction and does not have a developed understanding of the nature of prohibitions.4 One should not give a child non-kosher food to play with since he may place it in his mouth.5
Adults may not instruct a child to perform a prohibtion. For example one may not tell a child to turn on a light on Shabbos even if he is not the child’s parent. According to some halachic authorities if the result of the prohibition is intended for the benefit of the child he may be told to transgress a Rabbinic prohibition.6 Therefore in cases of great need one may instruct a child below the age of chinuch to turn off a light on Shabbos, for example, if he will not be able to sleep.
1)Mishneh Brurah 343 2)MB343:3 3) MB343:7 4)MB343:4 5)ibid 6) Chayeh Adam 66:6
