If the parents are a little negligent at this stage...

If the parents are a little negligent at this stage, then they will be subject to heavy retribution on the Day of Judgement. They must try to carefully answer all the questions their little child asks. If they avoid answering the questions for some reason, they might cause the extinction of the childs urge for discovery. But it may not be easy to answer all the questions of the child. The answers shall have to be correct, short and narrated in simple words.

As the child grows, he will become capable of understanding more difficult information. The parents will have to prepare themselves to reply to the probable questions that the child might ask them. They should not give to the child any information that might be beyond his comprehension. Such answers might confuse the child instead of quenching his thirst for knowledge. The Theological education of the child should be such that he is able to grasp with ease.

Imam Jafar Sadiq says: When the child is three years old, teach him to say La ilaha il Allah (There is no god, but Allah). Then leave him alone. When he is three years, seven months and twenty days; teach him to say Mohammed ar Rasool Allah (Mohammed is the Prophet of Allah). Leave him alone till he completes four years of age. Now teach him to say the Salawat (the praises) of the Prophet (and his holy progeny). [1] Make the children learn to recite simple couplets about religious matters.

This will be an interesting exercise for them. Then teach them about the Nubuwwat (the Prophethood) and Imamate (the Vicegerency). First the child must be told about the Prophet that he has been sent by Allah for the guidance of mankind. Then they must be told about the Prophets superior qualities and his exemplary way of life. Narrate to the child some interesting events of the Prophets life.

Then the child must be told about the Vicegerents of the Prophet for the continuity of the correct guidance of his people after him. All this information should be conveyed to the child in the form of short narrations to retain his continued interest. About Qiyamat (the Doomsday) a child does not give early attention. He thinks that he and his parents will live happily forever. Talking to a child about death at that tender age may not be desirable.

The child thinks that the people who died have gone on a long journey. Sometimes tragedies do take place in the families while the children are still small.