To answer these questions, I would like to present a novel idea to our esteemed audience. We have learned in the Gemara (Succah 42a): "תנו רבנן קטן היודע לנענע חייב בלולב, להתעטף חייב בציצית, לשמור תפילין, אביו לוקח לו תפילין, יודע לדבר, אביו לומדו תורה וקריאת שמע, תורה מאי היא, אמר רב המנונא, תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהלת יעקב, קריאת שמע מאי היא, פסוק ראשון". The Rabbis taught in a Baraisa: A minor who knows how to wave is obligated in the mitzvah of lulav; to wrap himself with a tallis, he is obligated in the mitzvah of Tzitzis; to protect the tefillin, his father should buy him tefillin; how to talk, his father should teach him Torah and Krias Shema. What is meant here by “Torah”? Rav Hamnuna said: The passuk (Devarim 33, 4) ״תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהלת יעקב״. What is meant here by “Krias Shema”? The first passuk (in other words, the passuk (ibid. 6, 4): "שמע ישראל ה' אלקינו ה' אחד").
We learn from here that a father’s obligation of “chinuch” begins from the moment his small child begins to talk. In fact, this is one of the foundations and bedrock of Jewish education and upbringing—not to delay the process of “chinuch” until children are able to fully comprehend. Rather, a child should be taught Torah and Krias Shema as soon as he or she is able to talk. Here is a concise summary of what the Shela hakadosh writes on the subject (Sha’ar HaOtiyot Dalet):
The purpose of procreation is to have children and grandchildren who study Torah and perform mitzvos. It is essential to accustom a child and to teach him good midos and proper behavior from the moment he is able to talk. For, the passuk says (Mishlei 22, 6): "חנוך לנער על פי דרכו גם כי יזקין לא יסור ממנה"—educate a youth as befits him; even when he grows old, he will not abandon it.
Apropos this subject, it is worthwhile introducing the inspirational words of the Chovot HaLivAvos (Sha’ar Cheshbon HaNefesh, Chapter 3, 14). He encourages us to drive the yetzer out of our hearts from the moment it enters and not to wait until it has firmly settled in. He writes that initially the yetzer is very weak and cannot prevent you from recognizing the truth of a matter. If you are aware of its presence at that time, it will be easy for you to thwart its efforts. If, however, you ignore it, it will grow stronger and will obscure the light of your intellect. Then, it will be difficult to recognize its presence. Therefore, hurry to save yourself and rely on G-d’s help to rid yourself of its influence. Strive to enable the light of “chochmah” to help you see the true nature of things with the eye of your heart.
