To grow healthy and strong, children need good food, plenty of sleep, exercise, and fresh air. Children have emotional needs too. To be both healthy and happy, all children require these things:
Love. Every child needs to feel;
That a trusted adult loves, wants, and enjoys her.
That he matters very much to someone.
That there are people nearby who care what happens to her.
Acceptance. Every child needs to believe:
That his caregivers like him for himself, just the way he is.
That they like her all the time, and not only when she acts according to their idea of the way a child should act.
That they will let him grow and develop in his own way.
Security. Every child needs to know:
That her home is a good, safe place she can feel sure about.
That his caregivers will be there for him, especially in times of crisis when he needs them most.
That she belongs to a family or group, that there is a place where she fits in.
Protection. Every child needs to feel:
That his caregivers will keep him safe from harm.
That they will help her when she must face strange, unknown, and frightening situations.
Independence. Every child needs to know:
That his caregivers want him to grow up and that they encourage him to try new things.
That they have confidence in her and her ability to do things by and for herself.
Faith. Every child needs to have:
A set of moral standards to live by.
A belief in human values – kindness, courage, honesty, generosity and justice.
Guidance. Every child needs to receive:
Friendly help in learning how to behave toward people and things.
Grownups who show by example how to get along with others.
Control. Every child needs to know:
That there are limits to what she is permitted to do and that her caregivers will hold her to those limits.
That though it is all right to feel jealous or angry, he will not be allowed to hurt himself or others when he has these feelings.
Children whose basic needs are met have a better chance to grow up in good mental health and to become mentally healthy adults – good parents, good mates, good workers, good neighbors, good citizens.
Information from the National Association for Mental Health, 1981.