That's what I was thinking -- simply correct them. You'd be surprised how easily you can guide your kids into virtue -- at an early age -- by just requiring (or prohibiting) certain behavior.
It's not like they're strong-willed, set-in-their-ways, rebellious teenagers at that age.
My daughter has been a strong-willed, set-in-her-ways, rebellious teenager from birth.
Why didn't you quote the next line from my post?
Now kids have different dispositions/temperaments, and that has to be taken into account. But I think parents need to simply TRY and guide their kids down the path of virtue, and not surrender to Original Sin before the fight even begins.
I know some kids can be stubborn and strong-willed -- I've met some of them.
But one can't complain if that's their child -- it can be a good thing.
I have two kids that aren't newborns. My son is VERY easily led -- by a parent OR a sibling/peer. As long as I keep him in good company, he should be fine. But he would be the type to take massive damage if I let him watch TV, advertisements, or sent him to public school.
My daughter seems to be a little more toward the strong-willed category, but I've met plenty who are much more so. So I know they exist.
But if you CAN manage to form a strong-willed child, they will be leaders of their peers. They will be strong against the world, etc. and you'll have little or nothing to worry about. If you raise an "easy" child, you'll always have to worry about someone else overwriting your "programming".
Matthew