Some children would just decide to frustrate the hell out of your life when you order them to do something or not to do it, and they start acting like one who doesn't hear what you say and the next thing you find yourself doing is screaming your lungs out, but it doesn't stop them from going back to doing what you warned them not to do, even if they stop for a while. To think that they do not know what is right or wrong, they do, they just want to make you stress over them. This is why you will see a child feeling remorseful when he or she does something bad and is caught in the act.
They decide when to act mischievously and nicely, it depends on their mood at that moment. If you promise a child goodies on the condition that they should not make noise or cause any distraction, they might obey because of what you are giving them, but after a while of not seeing anything from you, they will resume their act until you fulfill your promise.
Children are wonderful and I do say this with a smile when you do not expect something which they did and it impresses you, since it came unexpectedly, you try to encourage such a child and he or she would comply especially when they are being given public recognition among their peers. Yes, children want to be known and feel important too. So, when you do this, they feel happy and would heed to your order for some time because it's in them to cause trouble anywhere they are except for a child who decides to remain gentle, and most times, shyness causes this act too. When a child is gentle, it's because he or she is shy and cannot express himself or herself. Have you noticed this? Low self-esteem causes this.
There is this kid I teach in church. He is the pastor's son but he is always a troublesome boy. Such a wonderful boy who knows what he is doing but decides to distract my class with his act. He doesn't listen to what I teach them but when it's time for questions and answers, he is always the first to raise his hand to ask a question and it always baffles me when his questions are always smart for a five-year-old boy. This is what I love about him, asking questions just to be sure, but he never pays attention. He is also one kind that likes to be praised and recognized by all but I wouldn't allow that every time for him because I love all the kids and would want them to feel important among each other.
There was a Sunday I took them a particular lesson about the gift of the Holy Spirit. All through my talk, he was always making noise, if he doesn't cry to be given a Bible just to hold, he would because I didn't allow him to keep going to the toilet every 2 minutes. This was the reason I appointed him as the class head boy and made him know the roles of the head boy, one of it is not making noise but that didn't make him change.
When I finished the lesson, I asked them if there was any question and no one raised their hands. I went on to ask my questions as my evaluation to determine if they understood everything I taught them. I asked a tricky question for a test and to my amazement, this young boy who paid no attention from the beginning of the class answered all correctly. He amazed me that day and I was shocked. This means he has been listening all the while but chose to distract my class with different tantrums.
Everyone clapped for him which made him keep quiet till when the service ended. That was when I realize the children know what they are doing, but they just act based on their mood for that day. When a child is excited about a thing, he would comport himself to good behavior but when he is not, then be ready to accept whatever frustrating act they bring to you.
