Obedience should be taught from the very start. As soon
as the child realizes that the parents mean what they say and that it is
useless to fret and complain about a command, that is the end of the
matter. How different it is with disobedient children! The parents have
to tell them what to do several times and then the bidding often remains
undone.
Begin to teach obedience and promptness as soon as the children
understand, for it is more difficult later. The older the children the
harder it is. Children know so little and are so conceited that they do
not realize that because of lack of experience, observation and
reflection they can not safely guide themselves at all times. When they
are allowed to act so that they are a nuisance to others and harmful to
themselves, they do not give up this license with good grace. There are
times to be firm and then firmness should be used. It is necessary for
the parents to cooperate.
Various parents have different ways of correcting their children, and it
is not difficult to make them realize that obedience is a part of the
plan of early life. To illustrate: If the children are called for a
meal, they should come promptly.
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