In this episode we discuss strategies to optimize your child’s ability to learn and thrive in your home.
Illustration/Visualization Exercise:
Take a minute to reflect back to a very important work or home project that you had to complete.
I want you to think about all the supports that helped you complete this project
Some examples could include:
- Getting adequate sleep
- Regularly exercising
- Having support from friends family or boss
- Having help
- Giving the ability to be creative
Next I want you to do the opposite. What things that made this project challenging
- Decreased sleep
- Lack of support
- Stress (bills)
- Relationship difficulties
- Health problems
This activity illustrates how many competing needs you have that significantly impact your motivation and ability to learn or complete a project.
Maslow's Hierarchy of needs.
The hierarchy of needs was developed by Abraham Maslow, a Russian-American psychologist, to explain human motivation.
The hierarchy of needs is visually presented with a pyramid of 5 different tiers of needs.
The lowest tier but most foundational tier is physiological needs then working up the pyramid is safety, love & belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization.
3 broader categories of needs:
- Basic needs which include physiological needs like water, shelter, food and safety.
- Psychological needs which include love, esteem, and belongingness
- Self-actualization which include our desire to thrive and be creative
Facilitate these needs to enhance your child’s learning environment at home.
Recap:
Children learn best when we feel like the task is meaningful and fun. This needs assessment allows us to consider how we can make changes to the environment while learning.
The first step is to consider your child’s basic needs to include sleep, food, safety and sensory needs being met prior to starting the activity.
The next step is to address psychological needs by analyzing social interactions and engagements. Consider if there is positive constructive feedback and that the activity is not too easy or hard.
Lastly, you can promote your child's self actualization needs by providing clear meaning for the activity, honing in on your child's interest, and allowing opportunities for creativity.
Resources/References/Links:
Maslow's Hierachy of Needs:
https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
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