What to do instead:
1. Expose them gently to real Christianity, both life and doctrine.
2. Don't shelter them too much. They need the external world as a basis of comparison.
3. Respect their free will.
I'm afraid I would fail at your first suggestion since I live my faith-life very real and very hard. To do as you suggest I could not say to my child follow me as I also follow Christ. I am unsure how I would measure on your second suggestion since I don't believe the world has a comparison to offer, why compare life with death? On the third I might come up a little better since I have always treated my children with respect.
As a child I absolutely hated the observation that what was wrong for me as a child seemed acceptable in adults. I determined not to live like that. If it is wrong for my children it is wrong for me and vice versa. I told them you may rebuke me if you see me doing anything wrong. If I am doing wrong you don't have to copy it, it is always better to do what is right.
My youngest son refused to physically stand up for himself against bullies though he was very capable. I still respect that in him. They never got the better of him and he never used physical force. To be honest they all respected him in the end because of it.
I will have to admit that I would shelter my children as much as I felt necessary yet trying not to stifle them. Today I would not change a single thing for the most part of caring for my children is still on my knees.
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