The physical needs of a child: 9 Essential Things Every Child Needs to Thrive

9 Essential Things Every Child Needs to Thrive

A child’s basic needs include their physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

All children need their basic needs met in order to thrive throughout childhood and adulthood.

When a child’s social, emotional, and physical needs are met, they’re given a sure foundation on which to experience a happy childhood and achieve their full potential.

It’s also important for parents to recognize that many of their child’s behavior problems or issues often stem from not getting basic needs met.

We’ve all experienced the meltdown of a child who is overly tired or hungry. But children also act out when their emotional needs of affection, attention, and empathy are missing.

Most parents and adults are aware of what their child’s physical needs are including:

• Adequate shelter
• Eating nutritious and healthy meals on a regular basis
• Drinking enough water
• Good dental care
• Good health care
• A good education

Beyond these very basic needs, children also require the following less tangible needs from their parents or caregivers:

9 Things Every Child Needs to Thrive

Once a child’s physical needs are met, the following needs lead children toward a healthier life and development.

Secure Attachment

A primary need of infants and children is a secure attachment to their parent or caregiver. Forming a secure attachment in early childhood not only creates the foundation of a healthy parent child relationship, it also leads to resiliency in kids as well as better physical and mental health.

Children with a secure attachment feel that their parent or caregiver will protect them, help them when distressed and calm them when upset. This is especially important during the first three years of a child’s life when the most brain development occurs.

Parents form a secure attachment with their child through physical affection, a lot of quality time, responsiveness, and making their child feel seen and known, valued, and comforted.

See related: Secure Attachment – From Childhood to Adult Relationships

Unconditional Love

Children who are loved unconditionally – without strings attached – are able to blossom into their true selves which provide a sense of security and leads to high self-esteem.  

Most parents feel a strong, powerful and what they consider to be unconditional love for their child. But what many parents don’t realize is that their actions sometimes express a conditionality to their love.

Wherever a parent withholds affection in the name of discipline or shows disapproval for their child’s lack of achievement, they’re sending the message that their love can vary based on circumstances.

While it’s important for us to guide, coach and encourage our children, it’s also important, for our child’s healthy development, to express love without limits.

See related: 5 Secrets to Love Your Child Unconditionally

Acceptance

Similar to unconditional love, children need to know they’re accepted by their parents.

All parents have hopes and dreams for their children but it’s important not to let those dreams drive our relationship with our child ( such as: my daughter will be a scientist or my son will excel in baseball).

Instead, we need to be alert to our child’s unique personality, varying needs, passions and support and encourage them as much as possible. 

Other subtle ways our child can feel rejected by us include: being made fun of, lack of quality time, demonstrating a preference for another sibling, and dismissing your child’s communicated emotional and physical needs. 

See related: The Effects of Rejection in Childhood 

Emotion coaching

One of the biggest challenges for young children is trying to understand and regulate their own emotions. When parents emotion coach their children, they’re helping them develop these skills which support their child’s emotional health and helps them form healthy social bonds.

Emotion coaching means helping your child navigate their emotions in a calm, empathetic and supportive manner. It also means comforting your child when they’re distressed, demonstrating active listening with your child, and respectfully helping your child problem solve solutions.  

Through your coaching your child will be more resilient, have better coping skills, better social interactions, and will be better equipped to navigate the ups and downs of their childhood and adult life. 

See related: The 7 Emotional Needs of a Child That Influence Confidence and Self-Esteem

Routines

As young, immature human beings, children seek security in their lives. While attachment to a parent or caregiver is essential for this security, a consistent routine can also be a source of safety.

When parents establish a daily routine with their child, they’re providing cues for what happens next during the day. When children know what to expect in their everyday activities, they’re less thrown off by changing events and therefore less likely to act out or meltdown emotionally. 

Routines also provide the means for better sleep habits, increased independence, and instruction in time management skills. 

See related: Establishing Kids Routines

Responsibility

As children get older, they have a basic need to demonstrate greater responsibility and independence over their lives. It’s important for children to practice these skills at home so they can adequately care for themselves as young adults.

Parents of young children can encourage a sense of responsibility by having their child help clean up their toys or messes. As children get older they can take on more responsibilities such as getting dressed independently, making simple meals such as school lunches, and contributing to household chores. 

See related: How to Stop Doing Everything for Your Kids and Teach Responsibility

Positive discipline

As new creatures in our world, our children yearn to understand how the world works including important boundaries and the best way to behave. Positive discipline helps coach and teach children in a constructive way while maintaining a strong and loving parent child bond.

Unlike punishment that aims to inflict pain and suffering on a child for wrongdoing, positive discipline recognizes that children’s emotional regulation and cognitive development is immature. And because of this, kids need positive instruction in how best to behave.

Parents who use positive discipline respectfully provide their children with appropriate guidance in emotion coaching, boundaries, and collaborative problem solving. 

See related: Raising Self-Sufficient Kids with Positive Discipline

Good role models

In addition to having parents who teach boundaries and proper behavior, children additionally need good role models to understand the best way to interact with and relate to others, establish healthy habits, and generally live life. And parents are the most important role models in a child’s life.

In fact, despite the saying: “Do what I say, not what I do.” children tend to do the opposite. Starting when they’re very young, children pick up on the behaviors of their role models – mimicking what they see their parents and others do. 

The way we as parents interact with other family members, in social situations with people outside of our family and respond to mistakes all serve as lessons for our children.

See related: The Importance of Parents as Role Models

Time to Play

While play may seem like a frivolous activity to many adults, it’s actually essential to child development. Through play, children learn and grow as individuals. Play contributes to children’s cognitive, social, physical and emotional well-being. 

In fact, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights feels it’s so essential that it’s declared it as a right of every child.

Parents can both make sure their children have dedicated free time to play daily and should seek out care options that allow for free play. 

See related: How to Encourage Imaginary Play (and Why it’s so Important)

What to do next…

1. Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Kids’ email list.

Like what you read here and want to learn more? Every Thursday I’ll send you one parenting tip about raising self-sufficient kids and creating the peaceful relationship you yearn to have with your child. Click here to sign up.

2. Take one of my quizzes!

Find out if you’re raising a self-sufficient kid (click here) or if you’re doing too much for your kids (click here). At the end of each quiz, you’ll be asked to provide your email address to see the results.

3. Get your kids started on chores.

Learn how to get your child started on chores (& keep them motivated + avoid power struggles) by enrolling in my Get Your Kids Successfully Started on Chores course. Click here to learn more and sign-up.

4. Become a member of The Empowered Parents Collective.

As a member of the Empowered Parents Collective, you’ll have access to targeted positive parenting advice in the form of mini-courses, expert interviews, Q&A from a certified parent educator, and more. Click here to learn more and sign-up.

About Kerry Flatley

Hi! I’m Kerry, the mother of two girls and a certified parent educator. I believe it is possible for parents to have a supportive, loving, and warm relationship with their kids while raising them to be independent and ultimately self-sufficient. Over the years, I’ve read numerous books and articles that support this belief and I’ve put these ideas into practice with my own kids. Read more about me and Self-Sufficient Kids here.

6 Ways To Embrace The Physical Needs of a Toddler

Skip to content

Toddlers get a bad rap. Sure they whine and throw tantrums. But can you blame them? There’s a lot going on in those pint-sized bodies.

By age two your little one will grow to half their adult height—something they’ll spend the next two decades reaching. And their shape will morph from one designed for doing a whole bunch of nothing to one that can crawl, walk and run.

With the world at their fingertips, there’s still so much they can’t do. That’s where you come in.

Your Toddler’s Physical Needs

Toddlers bring to us four basic physical needs: independence, affection, rest and wide open spaces. Your toddler probably isn’t even aware of these longings. But now you are.

So let’s break it down, shall we? 

Independence: They’re living the “do it myself” phase of life. Most things they can’t actually do themselves, but they sure want to try. After all, toddlers learn by doing.

Affection: Nothing matters more to a toddler than your physical, consistent presence.

Rest: Wired as he may be, your toddler needs a break. Naps and room time are like a reset for his mind and body.

Wide open spaces: Play is a deceptive word for all the work a toddler does while climbing a ladder at the park or running laps in your living room. Expending energy and gaining knowledge all while going a wee-bit wild is the necessary act of child’s—err, toddler’s—play.

How You Make a Difference

You can help your little one manage the transition to preschooler as long as you accomplish your number one goal: attending to their physical needs.

When you decide to go for it, and to take on all the mess and energy that this action requires, a few beautiful things happen. You:

Help your toddler develop confidence.

Reassure your toddler he is safe with you.

Answer your toddler’s big question, “Am I able?” with a resounding, “Yes!”

Portray God the Father as you extend patience, love and grace.

Six Practical Ways to Embrace Your Toddler

Involve him in your daily activities. Look for tasks that are challenging but doable and ask your toddler to help. You might bake cookies together, put away groceries or clean up a mess. The opportunity to practice a new skill also allows your toddler to contribute to the family in a meaningful way.

Repeat a useful phrase. Remember how it felt the last time you wanted to do something but your body or brain wouldn’t cooperate? Toddlers live in that moment.

Teach him to work through his emotions by repeating a phrase like, “When you’re frustrated what can you do? Try again or ask for help. ” Say it over and over. Soon enough he’ll stop you mid-sentence, with a smile even, to say “Okay! I’ll try again!”

Offer toys and outings that build his muscles. We all have ‘em: toys that light up, make noise and require no effort on behalf of our kids. As often as you can, ditch those passive activities in favor of ones that improve gross and fine motor skills. Grab blocks, puzzles or playdough. Take a long walk, visit the park. Set the stage and let him explore.

Cuddle on the couch. Affection is a miracle antidote. It’s also a lovely preventable measure that’s sure to ward off a tantrum or two. Snuggle up on the couch or in bed at least once a day to cuddle, read books or sing silly songs.

Relate to their mistakes. Toddlers crave approval. And they’re smart enough to know that peeing on the floor isn’t what you’re looking for. Avoid shaming your toddler, which is demotivating and, instead, relate to their struggle. You might say, “It’s okay! Accidents happen. ” And then share a story about when you made a mistake.

Stick to your guns. Toddlers are little boogers who insist—quite convincingly—that they can play all day. But you know better. Encourage two naps for toddlers under 18 months of age and one afternoon nap for older toddlers. If he has trouble falling asleep, fill his bed with books and watch him grow a love for reading. Make rest a must in your home.

When all else fails, be an encourager. Affirm effort over outcome with four little words: “You can do it!”

Read more about your toddler in One and Two: Parenting Through the “I Can Do It” Phase by Reggie Joiner & Kristen Ivy. It’s just a phase, so don’t miss it.

Satisfying the needs of the child is an important condition for the development of personality

March 4, 2019

Satisfying the needs of the child is an important condition for his development. A special role in the formation of his personality is played by the extent to which his basic needs are satisfied – physiological, the needs of love, security and recognition. Derivation, insufficient satisfaction of any of these needs prevents the formation of basic personality structures (self-esteem, self-confidence, etc.), which help a person to live in harmony with himself and the world around him. nine0003

It was the questions of basic needs that we tried to reveal as much as possible at the round table meeting “Caring Parent”, since the family and the child are a mirror reflection of each other. Discussion of such issues helps to ensure that each parent present at the meeting can assess the situation in his family, analyze his mistakes, and draw appropriate conclusions.

Let’s look at these needs one by one.

Physiological needs (vital) is a variety of needs that allow the child to maintain life. A short-term denial of satisfaction in them can lead to serious disturbances in all types of the child’s life (in food, rest, sleep, breathing, etc. ).

It is for children that the most necessary vital needs are gentle touches, mother’s caresses, which help the child to feel himself, to know the boundaries of his body, which throughout life remains a support for self-education. nine0003

The need for unconditional love – is a truly vital need of a human being. This is the need for a good and gentle attitude. It is also the child’s need to be seen as himself and not as someone else, so as not to be compared with anyone else. Simply put, it is the need to be individual in the eyes of other people. Love and acceptance by a person of himself depends on how much he was loved, accepted in childhood by his parents.

nine0011 Need for security. Children are the category of the population that needs this type of need the most. Years will pass before they become adults, find and take their place in society. All these years they will feel the need for protection, salvation from fear and grief. They require the presence of parents who are not afraid of life, who are adapted in society, in order to calmly accept these fears, help them express these fears, learn to face difficulties. Children need to feel the support of their relatives. nine0003

Need for respect or recognition. Each person constantly needs recognition, a stable and high assessment of their own merits. The child needs his actions and achievements to be approved, recognized, appreciated.

It is important to note that a need unsatisfied in childhood becomes the main motivational force of an adult personality. The role of the family in the formation of personality is determined by the dependence, which family is such and the person who grew up in it. nine0003

Share on social networks:

Actual news

“Sberbank Complems Dreams”

12.12.22

Read more

to the International Day of the Disabled

9000.2.22 9000

Read more We will save this world with kindness!

01. 12.22

Read more

“We give Moms a smile!”

11/30/22

Read more

“Mom is important and necessary in everyone’s life!”

11/28/22

Read more

Online financial literacy lessons

11/28/22

3

Read more

Previous

Track.

The physical needs of the child. Anna Freud | Psychoanalyst

Of all the necessary conditions for proper development, first of all, it is necessary to say about the need for a carefully balanced diet of the child. In many civilized countries, public organizations control the nutrition of children: in children’s charity clinics they give advice to mothers, timely supply vital products that are difficult to obtain either because of their scarcity or because of the poverty of parents.

The child’s diet is based on the results of psychological and nutritional research, and this fundamentally changes the child’s diet compared to the previous generation. What used to be considered a luxury or delicacies (fruit juices, sweets, fish oil, and so on) is now recognized as vital, and today’s children are provided with these products. There is a definite tendency to extend this policy to the later stages of childhood, as evidenced by the introduction of school breakfasts and lunches. There is also a growing trend to shift the responsibility for feeding children from parents to public institutions. nine0003

Space. Adults consider the need for food to be more important for children than another, equivalent to it, physical need, which found expression in John Orr in the requirement of “full shelter”. Many children lag behind in development due to lack of fresh air, lack of necessary hygiene products, due to the fact that the child does not have a separate bed.

Another physical need of young children is still insufficiently elucidated, although it ranks high among the basic requirements for raising a healthy generation. Young children need active help from adults in developing their muscle control and physical skills. Not that they need to be taught anything in this regard. The ability to crawl, walk, run, jump and climb develops naturally. But in order to increase the level that each child is able to achieve individually, these skills must be improved, and adults must contribute to this improvement. Children need to be provided with full space and enough safe conditions to achieve complete control over their bodies. In the cramped conditions in which many children spend their first two or three years, they inevitably face some restrictions on physical freedom. P1x movements are restrained so that they do not harm themselves or the property of adults. The consequences of such restrictions in early childhood do not appear as clearly or quickly as the consequences of malnutrition. But there are many children who all their lives remain far below their potential level in achieving physical control over the body. They remain clumsy and undeveloped in their movements, although they could become free, dexterous and graceful if they were given enough space and the opportunity to use toys designed to develop motor skills in early childhood. nine0003

Little attention is also paid to the development of various skills at an early age. Grasping, holding, pulling, pushing, touching and other skills are improved consistently if the child develops normally. But the big difference lies in whether the means to improve these skills are accepted or rejected. There are a great many educational toys that serve this purpose perfectly. The requirement that every child should have access to such things as one of the rights of any child is now being considered by public bodies (eg the UK Nursery Association). The same skills that are expected from a child and from an adult at a later age are quite often not developed from the very beginning due to the fact that the necessary conditions for this have not been created. nine0003

In addition, in connection with the above two requirements, there is a certain tendency to shift the responsibility for providing children with all the necessary conditions from parents to public institutions, that is, to supplement what parents can offer their children in this regard, at the expense of public authorities.