This game teaches students or children to ask before doing anything they want to do. You can change the phrase to whatever works for you. For example, if you are a parent, you can change it to, "Mother, may I?" or "Father, may I?" Have each child stand in a line, then turn your back. Each child says, "Can I take [a certain number] steps forward?" The key is though, that the child must say the phrase, "Teacher, may I?" If not, the child can't move. The trick is that the child doesn't always get to take the steps; the teacher (or parent) can also deny him as well. It's all about obeying.
Simon Says is a great game to play with children to teach good listening skills as well as obeying. The teacher or parent gives commands, such as "Simon Says put your hand on your head," and all children must put their hand on their head. If any of the children do not put their hand on their head they are out of the game. Children are also out of the game if they do what the parent or teacher says without saying Simon Says. The last person standing — the person who has obeyed the leader all the times she has or hasn't said “Simon says” — wins the game. It's a good idea to explain how Simon Says helps children follow leaders and play again to let them see if they can improve.
This is suitable for younger children for whom Simon Says would not work. You can play this in a couple of different ways. You can be the leader or you can choose one of the children to be a leaders and switch every five or 10 minutes. Either way, have the children behave in different ways according to what the leader is doing — similar to Simon Says but without the phrase. If a child does not follow the behavior of the leader, he is out of the game.
Children stand in a line about 25 feet away from you. Explain to them that when you say “green light,” they can come forward in any way that they would like, but when you say “red light,” they must stop. If someone moves when you say red light, that person must return to the starting line. The first person to get to the other side wins the game. Children must use their listening skills and obey the leader who is making the red and green light commands.