NEEDS AND WANTS

How to explain needs and wants to kids with example

  • Needs are things that are necessary for survival, such as food, shelter, and clothing.

  • Wants are things that are desired but not necessary, such as toys or candy.

  • For example, you can explain to a child that they need a healthy dinner to grow strong, but they might want ice cream for dessert. Or, they need warm clothes for winter, but they might want a new designer jacket.

  1. Food: You need to eat healthy meals to stay strong and grow, but you might want a piece of candy as a treat.

  2. Shelter: You need a safe place to live, such as a house or apartment, but you might want a bigger or fancier home.

  3. Clothing: You need clothes to keep warm and protect your body, but you might want a new designer outfit.

  4. Water: You need water to stay hydrated and healthy, but you might want a fancy flavored water.

  5. Sleep: You need to sleep to rest your body and mind, but you might want to stay up late to watch a movie.

  6. Education: You need to learn and get an education to have a good future, but you might want to take a certain class because you find it interesting.

  7. Medicine: You need medicine to stay healthy when you are sick, but you might want an extra vitamin supplement.

  8. Transportation: You need a way to get around, such as a car or bike, but you might want a nicer or faster vehicle.

  9. Safety: You need to feel safe and secure, but you might want a new security system for your home.

  10. Social interaction: You need to interact with other people to be healthy, but you might want to spend time with a specific friend or group of friends.

How to perform activities

Here are a few activities that can help teach children the difference between needs and wants:

  1. Needs and Wants Sorting: Cut out pictures of various items from magazines or newspapers and sort them into two piles: needs and wants. Discuss with the children why each item was placed in a specific pile.

  2. Needs and Wants Role-playing: Set up a pretend store and have the children take turns being the customer and the storekeeper. The customer can ask for various items and the storekeeper can decide whether to sell them or not, based on whether they are a need or a want.

  3. Needs and Wants Story: Create a story with the children about a character who has to make decisions about what to buy, using their money wisely by distinguishing between needs and wants.

  4. Needs and Wants Game: Create a game where children have to identify whether a statement describes a need or a want, and give them a point for each correct answer.

  5. Needs and Wants Craft: Have the children create a collage or drawing of items they think are needs and wants. Discuss their choices as a group.

  6. Needs and Wants Budgeting: Give the children a set amount of pretend money and have them decide how to allocate it between needs and wants.

  7. Needs and Wants Debate: Have the children debate whether certain items are needs or wants.