Start by asking the children what they think of when you say the word loyal. It could be they mention being loyal to your friends, how people say dogs/pets are loyal to their owners, or how people are loyal to a sports team. Being loyal is about sticking by someone, through thick and thin. It means not giving up and letting go. Fans of certain sports clubs will be able to resonate with that feeling.
Split the children into pairs and give them a bib/scarf to tie two of their legs together. Explain that we are going to start with a three-legged race. But not just any three-legged race, but a three-legged obstacle course race. Their job is to as a pair weave in and out of the cones, and over/under any obstacles that you have laid out for them.
Depending on the size of your group you could either put the pairs into teams and see which team of pairs completes the race first, or you could run a knock out competition where the winning pairs compete again against each other until there is a final and an overall winner.
Once you have completed your three-legged races, tell them that you are going to repeat the activity, however get the children to take off the bibs/scarves that are tying their legs together.
This time they will be doing the three-legged race, without being tied together. They will still have to walk in step with each other, and go round/over/under the obstacles, they just aren’t tied together. They will have to put more effort into going where their partner is going.
After completing the challenge, sit your group down and ask them how they found it. How was it completing the challenge? Would it have been easier doing it on your own than tied to their partner? Did they find it easier or harder once they were untied?
While it might easy to go it alone, when we’re part of a team we need to loyal to one another and stick by each other, even if the challenge we face is tough.
Watch the Ruth and Naomi video with your group, and then discuss the following questions:
- How do you think Ruth felt when she chose to stay with Naomi, even though she didn’t have to?
- Why do you think Ruth stayed with Naomi, even when it was hard? What does that tell us about her?
- Have you ever had to help a friend or family member, even when it wasn’t easy or fun? What did you do?
- What can we learn from Ruth about being a good friend or family member?
- Can you think of a way you could show loyalty or kindness to someone this week, even if it’s hard?
End in prayer with the group:

Dear God,
Thank you for the story of Ruth and Naomi.
Thank you for showing us what it means to be a good friend.
Help us to be kind, loyal, and caring like Ruth.
Even when it’s hard, help us to do what’s right.
Thank you that you are always with us, just like You were with Ruth and Naomi.
Amen.

“Where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay.” (Ruth 1:16)

The Boys' Brigade

Planning Tools

Battalion Junior Big Quiz 2026

Fri 13 March 2026, 7:00pm - 8:30pm