Emotional needs of a child

Title

Language

English

Source

Panorama Volume XX (No. 10) October 1968

Year

1968

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF A CHILD Physical growth is not the only development a child un dergoes. Hand in hand with the needs of physical health are the needs for emotional health. A child is born without any sense of right or wrong — he does not inherit habits, either good or bad, but learns what is expected of him from his parents. What are the needs? Most world authorities have re duced them to eight: love, security, protection, accept ance, independence, faith, guidance and discipline. Most children show diffi cult behaviour or nervous symptoms as they face diffi culties. Generally, these are not serious and disappear as the child learns to cope with stress. However, if over a long period the behaviour is difficult in a number of ways, or there are many nervous sypmtoms, parents should: Seek the teacher’s advice or services. Consult their doctor. Contact a Child Health Center. DISCIPLINE Every child needs the example set by adults that it is possible to live in harmony with others, and that the thoughts and feelings of others must be considered. INDEPENDENCE Every child needs the knowledge that his parents trust him to do things for himself, and by himself, and that they have confidence in his attempts to develop new abilities. GUIDANCE Every child needs the knowledge that there is a li mit to what he is allowed to do and that his parents will be consistent in applying this limit, and that although he may have angry feelings, he will not be allowed to vent them unreasonably on others. October 1968 35 ACCEPTANCE Every child needs the be lief that his parents like him for himself, just the way he is, that they like him all the time, and not only when he has been good (according to their ideas), and that even when he has been bad they will always accept him. LOVE Every child needs the feel ing that his parents love him no matter what he does — that at least to someone he matters very much. SECURITY Every child needs the knowledge that he belongs, that in his home he is secure and that when he needs his parents they will be there to help him. PROTECTION Every child needs the feel ing that with his parents he is safe from harm, and that he will always have their help in facing new problems. FAITH Every child needs the be lief that human values are worthwhile, and that there are moral standards which he must observe. — Variety, November 3, 1968. SPINSTER Unmarried females once spun, all the thread out of which they later, wove the household linens and trouseaus that they would need when they were married. Hence all girls were busy spinning until they married and were called spinsters. If they did not marry at all they might be said to be spin ning (in preparation for the hoped-for event) all their lives. From this the term began to be ap plied to old maids. 36 Panorama

pages

35+

Media