Your Child Has Four Emotional Needs. Are You Meeting Them?

Everyone has needs that should be met and this includes children. Over time, the needs of children have evolved from the physical (shelter, food, safety) to include emotional needs.

This may come as a surprise but there are some parents who do not know that their children have needs and there are repercussions when they are not met. Parents must therefore make it a point to meet these needs as well. Emphasis here is on the needs of the child and not their wants. These needs are many but LEAD should not be overlooked.

LOVE: Love is one of the most important needs of children. Show them that you love and care for them.

EXAMPLE: Lead them by example. Don’t behave badly in front of them or talk harshly to others or about others in their presence. Children tend to copy your good and bad habits.

ACCEPTANCE: Parents should show their children to accept mistakes and apologize both in words and in action. Children should also be taught to consider the feelings of others so they do not offend others deliberately.

DISCIPLINE: It is okay to dot on your children but you should punish them when they go astray. Discipline should not necessarily include corporal punishment but which ever works for you as a parent should go a long way to prevent the child from erring. If you love your child, you will discipline him/her.

Make it a point to provide your child these needs in addition to good food, shelter, clothing and all others because if they don’t have it, it will tell on them everywhere they go and it will rub on you as the parent. Be a parent who LEADs.