The Importance of Obedience in Everyday Life for Children

Subject: Moral Education
Topic: Obedience

Content:

What is Obedience?

Obedience means doing what you are told to do, especially by someone in authority, and doing it at the right time. It involves listening and acting according to good instructions from people who care for you, like parents, teachers, or elders. Obeying the right people helps you stay safe, make good decisions, and grow into a responsible person.

Who Should You Obey?

You should obey those who guide you with positive instructions, such as:

• Parents: They care for you and want the best for you.
• Teachers: They help you learn and become knowledgeable.
• Elders: Respectful elders can provide you with wisdom and guidance.

Examples of Good Instructions:

1. Always obey your parents: They know what is best for you and have more experience.
2. Help your parents with chores: Helping out at home shows respect and builds responsibility.
3. Do your homework: This helps you learn and succeed in school.
4. Play safely with others: Avoid rough play to prevent injuries.
5. Be truthful: Lying can lead to loss of trust and bigger problems.
6. Don’t take things that aren’t yours: Stealing is wrong and can get you into trouble.
7. Avoid fights: Fighting can hurt others and may lead to disciplinary actions.

Important Note on Obedience: Always remember, obeying good instructions is essential. However, you must never follow instructions that could harm you or others. Always choose friends who support positive behavior and respect the same values as you do.

Avoiding Bad Instructions

Sometimes, friends or people you meet may try to influence you with negative actions or words. It is important to know how to recognize these situations and choose not to follow their bad instructions. Listen carefully to your parents or teachers about what is right and wrong.

Examples of Bad Instructions:

1. “Push your friend.” – Hurting others is never acceptable.
2. “Let’s fight.” – Physical conflicts are not the right way to solve problems.
3. “Don’t listen to your parents.” – Parents guide you with good advice.
4. “Let’s take money from someone’s wallet.” – Stealing is against the law and is morally wrong.
5. “Let’s hurt or bully someone.” – Bullying can deeply harm others and is never okay.
6. “Let me touch you inappropriately.” – If anyone tries to touch you in a way that makes you uncomfortable or touches your private parts (red spots), you should immediately report this to an adult and inform your parents.

If any person, even a friend, makes you uncomfortable or asks you to do anything wrong, please report it to an adult you trust. Protecting yourself is essential.
Read more on how to recognize inappropriate behavior from trusted sources like KidsHealth.

Choosing Good Friends

It’s essential to be careful with the people you choose as friends. The type of friends you keep can influence your decisions and actions. A wise saying goes, “Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are.” This means that your friends’ behavior and attitudes can reflect who you are becoming. Stick with friends who have positive attitudes, avoid trouble, and encourage you to do the right thing.

Rewards for Obedience

When you practice obedience, there are many benefits and rewards that can follow. People appreciate respectful and responsible individuals, and you may find more doors open to you when you make good choices.

Examples of Rewards for Obedience:

1. God’s Blessings: Many believe that God rewards those who obey their parents and do good.
2. Gifts and Rewards: Obedient children often receive praise, gifts, or special rewards from parents and teachers.
3. Respect from Others: People are more likely to respect you when they see you behaving responsibly.
4. Friendships: People are drawn to positive individuals who obey rules and show kindness.
5. Trust and Responsibility: Adults may trust you with important duties when they see your obedience and good behavior.

Learn more about the importance of positive behavior and respect on Child Mind Institute.

Obedience is a powerful character trait. By listening to good advice, you can avoid problems and live happily with friends, family, and teachers who trust and respect you.

Evaluation Questions

1. Obedience means doing what you are told to do at the ___ time.
   • a) wrong
   • b) right
   • c) late
   • d) anytime
     Answer: b) right
2. We should obey our ___ because they want the best for us.
   • a) friends
   • b) parents
   • c) strangers
   • d) neighbors
     Answer: b) parents
3. One example of a good instruction is to always ___ your homework.
   • a) ignore
   • b) delay
   • c) do
   • d) forget
     Answer: c) do
4. Pushing a friend is an example of a ___ instruction.
   • a) good
   • b) bad
   • c) safe
   • d) necessary
     Answer: b) bad
5. If someone makes you uncomfortable, you should report it to a(n) ___.
   • a) stranger
   • b) friend
   • c) adult
   • d) neighbor
     Answer: c) adult
6. Helping parents with chores is a sign of ___.
   • a) obedience
   • b) disobedience
   • c) rebellion
   • d) laziness
     Answer: a) obedience
7. Which of the following is a reward for obedience?
   • a) Losing friends
   • b) Gaining respect
   • c) Being ignored
   • d) Punishment
     Answer: b) Gaining respect
8. Telling lies can lead to ___.
   • a) trust
   • b) respect
   • c) losing trust
   • d) gifts
     Answer: c) losing trust
9. If a friend asks you to steal, you should ___.
   • a) obey them
   • b) ignore them
   • c) follow them
   • d) thank them
     Answer: b) ignore them
10. “Show me your friends, and I will tell you ___” is a popular saying.
    • a) what you know
    • b) who you are
    • c) where you live
    • d) how you look
      Answer: b) who you are
11. Fighting with friends is a sign of ___.
    • a) obedience
    • b) respect
    • c) disobedience
    • d) honesty
      Answer: c) disobedience
12. One benefit of obedience is that you may receive ___ from others.
    • a) punishment
    • b) gifts
    • c) troubles
    • d) accidents
      Answer: b) gifts
13. Choosing good friends helps you to ___.
    • a) make poor choices
    • b) obey bad instructions
    • c) stay on the right path
    • d) ignore rules
      Answer: c) stay on the right path
14. If a friend asks you to push another person, it is best to ___.
    • a) obey
    • b) refuse
    • c) follow
    • d) ignore safety
      Answer: b) refuse
15. Obeying your parents can lead to ___.
    • a) losing respect
    • b) gaining respect
    • c) hurting others
    • d) punishment
      Answer: b) gaining respect

Class Activity Discussion

1. What does obedience mean?
   • Obedience means doing what you are told to do, especially by someone in authority, and doing it at the right time.
2. Who should we obey?
   • We should obey people who guide us with positive instructions, like our parents, teachers, and elders.
3. Why should we obey our parents and teachers?
   • Our parents and teachers care for us, and they provide guidance that helps us stay safe, learn, and grow.
4. What are some examples of good instructions?
   • Good instructions include helping with chores, doing homework, and avoiding rough play.
5. What should we do if someone asks us to lie?
   • We should refuse to lie because lying can cause harm and lead to a loss of trust.
6. Is it okay to follow instructions that can harm us?
   • No, we should avoid following any instructions that may cause harm to ourselves or others.
7. What should you do if someone asks you to steal?
   • We should say no and avoid doing anything that is against the law or is morally wrong.
8. Why is it important to choose good friends?
   • Good friends can positively influence our behavior and help us make good choices.
9. What does the saying “Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are” mean?
   • It means that the kind of friends we keep reflects who we are or who we may become.
10. What are some examples of bad instructions?
    • Examples of bad instructions include pushing someone, fighting, or not listening to parents.
11. What should you do if someone touches you inappropriately?
    • Report the person immediately to a trusted adult and inform your parents as soon as possible.
12. How can obedience lead to rewards?
    • Obedience can lead to rewards like respect, trust, and sometimes even gifts.
13. What are some rewards of being obedient?
    • Rewards include gaining respect, receiving gifts, and building good relationships.
14. Why should we avoid fights?
    • Fighting can lead to injuries and can harm relationships with others.
15. What should you do if someone asks you to disobey your parents?
    • We should ignore such instructions and stick to the guidance our parents give us.
16. REWARDS FOR OBEDIENCE

Evaluation

1. Define obedience.
2. List three people we should obey and explain why.
3. Give two examples of good instructions.
4. Explain why we should avoid bad friends.
5. What should you do if someone asks you to lie?
6. Describe what you would do if a friend encourages you to fight.
7. Mention one benefit of being obedient.
8. Why is it important to avoid stealing?
9. Explain what “Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are” means.
10. What are some rewards for being obedient?