Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

This verse does not mean that a child that is trained to live for God when young, will then go live a life apart from God, then when they are old they will come back to God. The phrase, when he is old, literally has the idea of hair
on the chin, that is, when he reaches the age when many teenagers go astray, and turn away from God, they will stay. When that child reaches puberty and maturity, they will keep on loving God.

Training goes beyond teaching or imparting knowledge. It includes positive motivation as well as modeling godly behavior before the child. This would sometimes help explain a child who, under the influence of a godly home, chooses to attend to the things of the Lord. Nevertheless in his adult years he tires of the spiritual life and willfully turns to the way of the world.

Training a child on the basis of this verse includes three core areas.

Dedication is the consistent meaning of the word in its other Old Testament occurrences. Deuteronomy 20:5; 1 Kings 8:63; 2 Chronicles 7:5. Child training must begin with dedication of the child to God. As parents we must realize that the child we love so deeply still belongs exclusively to God. He or she is given to us as parents as a stewardship.                                                                                                                                                                         Instruction is the meaning of this word as it is used in the Jewish writings. Parents are to instruct or cause their children to learn everything essential in knowing and pleasing God.
Motivation is the meaning of the word in Arabic. The term is used to describe the action of a midwife who stimulates the palate of the newborn babe so it will take nourishment. As parents we are to create a taste or desire within the child so that they are internally motivated (rather than externally compelled) to do what God wants them to do!

The recipient of the training, is a child. He or she is one who is dependent, in need of care. As long as the child is dependent on his parents he is to receive ongoing training, regardless of his age.

The content of the training:
in the way that he should go.
This is a loaded phrase. Ponder and pray over it.

The parents or guardians are to dedicate, instruct, and motivate their children to do what God evidently has best equipped the child to do for Him. “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” Joshua 24:15

Proverbs are wisdom statements.
They are not magical guarantees, but they are general truths about the most important issues of life. If God’s biblical process has been followed, the desired results usually occur. A child can still reject the training of godly parents, breaking the hearts of those who love them—at least for a season. But usually godly parenting ultimately results in godly adult offspring. Persistent, careful, godly parenting produces adult children whose Christian faith and commitment are unwavering. If yours still stray, keep praying, keep loving, keep following the Lord.

Training Begins with a Child

Start when they are young because it is so much easier to correct them when they’re young.

Chasten your son while there is hope. Proverbs 19:18 He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chastens him betimes. (Proverbs 13:24)

The word betimes literally means early, when they are young. Little children have a great ability to learn. It is just natural for them to ask a lot of questions when they are young. They have a great curiosity factor, and they have a great memory factor. Be there for them.

We Must Train With Discipline

The entire idea of training is that of discipline. Discipline them because you love them and because of our human nature demands it. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child.” (Proverbs 22:15) The word foolishness does not mean “silliness,” it means “wickedness.” Children are not born little angels, no matter how much we love them, or how adorable they look asleep.

We must stop trying to win a popularity contest with our children, and help them with their future. But we also need to really know them, and spend time with them.

Discipline to save them from destruction.

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. (Proverbs 23:13–14)

Our Western mindset and culture now flinches at words like this. And there are those who horribly abuse. This is not that. The word rod here is not the idea of a club; the parent is to use whatever it is that will cause the smart, the discomfort, but will not do any harm. You’re to discipline at the right time, the right place, the right way. Never ever are you to do physical harm to a child! We can discipline a child without doing physical harm to the child. And
some children may not require physical discipline at all. Your child may respond just as well to a word or look.
Others respond remarkably well to no toy, TV, or phone.

If a child does not learn to respect authority in the home they are not going to respect authority in the school, the church, in government, or heaven. When you discipline him in love and wisdom, he will not die, even if he’ll make the neighbors and grandparents think he’s going to. He will not, but you have a very good chance at allowing
temporary discomfort to save his or her soul from hell.