Taking Care of Children’s Basic Needs
We all have basic needs that must be met before we can realize our dreams. Until our kids can meet their own needs, we must do it for them. We must also help them learn how to take care of themselves.
There are six levels of basic needs.* Each level supports the next — like the layers of a pyramid. If the needs at one level are not met, it may be very difficult to move up to the next.
All these needs continue throughout life. It can take a lifetime of effort for children and parents to reach the top of the pyramid. Some never do. It takes great patience, good communication, lots of love, and good luck. There are no guarantees. Even very good parents need to be prepared for disappointments.
We all make mistakes. But the more we understand the job, and the harder we
try to do it well, the more likely it is that our kids will reach their greatest potential.
*These basic concepts are based on Dr. Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory.
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