Joey and Carla Link
October 8, 2025
Young children need more than than teaching, which is giving them information, like why obeying those in authority is a wise thing to do even if they don’t want to, they need to be trained how to use that information too. When you are first teaching/training your kids about a new Godly character value, after giving them the appropriate information, show them how to do it “right away, all the way, with a happy heart” (2-5 year).
When working with young children, “right away” won’t happen unless you work with them. The younger your child is the less likely they have the understanding why they have to do what you tell them to do right away. Have you given your kids an instruction and they only do part of it? You ask your 3 year-old to put his dirty clothes away. He knows you meant for him to put it in the laundry basket in his closet, but you found the clothes in a heap on the floor next to the basket instead.
You ask yourself if this is a big enough deal to make your child do it again. After all, he did get it in the closet, just not in the basket. Well, when do you want him to do his chores/tasks the right way? When it is important to you for him to do so? He’s only 3 years old! How is he supposed to know when it is and when it isn’t. Close is just that close, but it should never be good enough. Have him do it again the right way. This is the “all the way” part of training him in obedience.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
“All your ways” includes a happy heart too. Do your young children do what you tell them to do with a happy heart (good attitude), or do they argue with you, or whine and complain? We want to encourage you to watch your kids for a few days and check up on them to see if they have done the task you have given them “all the way”. Then make note of their attitude when you told them to do it. Was their heart happy or not? Young kids just don’t get why they have to not only do it when they don’t want to, but why they have to be happy about it too. This too is part of the training process. Perhaps you can see why it will take time to get your 3 yr. old to put his dirty clothes in the laundry basket on the floor of his closet “Right away, all the way, with a happy heart!”
Have you listened to these Mom’s Notes presentations?
“Understanding First-Time Obedience”
This Mom’s Notes has helped parents learn how to teach their young kids to obey “right away, all the way and with a happy heart”. As your kids get older, it will teach them to transfer this into obeying “immediately, completely,without arguing, and with no whining or complaining”. Not only that, but your kids will learn how to do the tasks you tell them to do the way they are supposed to do them.
Sound too good to be true? This Mom’s Notes provides helpful age-appropriate guidelines for parents on how to work with their kids so they understand what obedience looks like and why it needs to be a big deal to them to be obedient to you and others in authority.
“First Time Obedience Flow Chart”
The First Time Obedience flow chart, is designed to accompany the teaching of the Mom’s Notes presentation “Understanding First-Time Obedience”. Without this foundation, application of this chart can be misunderstood and/or applied.” This is a digital copy of the flow chart. You can download it and print it for reference.
“Understanding the Funnel”
The funnel is a way of helping parents understand boundaries, how to put them into place, how to keep your child inside those boundaries and what to do when he/she climbs over or under them. Evaluating how to deal with freedoms and choices are included.
Parenting Made Practical Podcast
#77 – 5 Essentials Parents Need To Train Their Kids In
Click the title or search Parenting Made Practical in your favorite
podcast app to listen!