Basic Needs

It is impossible to eliminate events in the lives of young children that create stress and anxiety. However, we can create an environment that enable children to weather life's storms and develop in normative ways. Abraham Maslow, a humanistic psychologist, suggested that individuals have a hierarchy of needs in developing a healthy personality and that personal growth is dependent on whether the needs of each level of the hierarchy are satisfied.

The foundation of this hierarchy provides for an individual's basic physiological needs including; air, food, water and shelter. We are fortunate in our society that our basic needs are generally well met and that we don't suffer from the dramatic disruptions that occur to many other societies due to widespread famine, disease or displacement . . . Hurricane Katrina not withstanding. However, there are still important physiological factors to consider that contribute significantly to children's healthy development and will subsequently support appropriate behavior including; diet, sleep and exercise. Providing a healthy diet, sleep that is free of disturbance or disruption and generous amounts of outdoor physical exercise are fundamental supports to young children's development, in addition to helping them combat stress and anxiety. In particular, sleep problems can have a significant impact on children's behavior, as well as affect their ability to process and retain information.

The second level of Maslow's hierarchy of healthy personality addresses an individual's need for safety and security. For young children, this means providing an environment that provides stability, structure and order. One way we accomplish this is by having routines that create comfortable rhythms for children. In a child care environment, we may formalize these routines into written schedules or daily lesson plans. Another critical component to this concept of security is providing children with clear limits or boundaries. Like a driver's manual, boundaries provide children with critical instructions on how to navigate within their environment. Without them, they will certainly veer off course, if not experience frequent mishaps on their journey through childhood. Ultimately, children's safety and security depend on our ability to protect children from danger or injury. In the childcare environment, at home or in the community, supervision of young children is required at all times.

Maslow's hierarchy of personality goes on to address our need for love and belonging, as well as the need for respect and esteem from others. Recognize, however, that children's behavior is often the result of their basic needs not being met. Until we address those needs, our efforts regarding children's behavior may prove ineffectual.