4.2: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Applied to Children
Just as adults, children go through stages of physical and psychological growth.In Module Two, we discussed Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Here, we will discuss the specific needs of children according to this hierarchy and how to best meet those needs as a Home Health Aide/Personal Care Aide.
Physical Needs
Children have the same basic physical needs as adults do. They need oxygen, food, activity, sleep, and must eliminate in order to survive. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides will work to help children meet their basic physical needs, just as they do with adults. They will assist them to complete Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as eating, drinking, toileting, bathing, and grooming. Taking vital signs, shopping for and preparing food for their patient, and measuring intake and output are other important tasks Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides do to help patients meet their physical needs.
Safety and Security Needs
After meeting basic physical needs, children must have their safety and security needs met. This includes having a safe place to live and not feeling afraid within our homes, or of the people around us. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides work within the child’s environment to make their home safe so that the child feels safe. This means they will need to ensure that there are no hazards in the patient’s home such as clutter or loose rugs that could cause a patient to slip, trip, or fall.Special safety precautions for children also includes to make sure medications in the home are locked up, cleaning equipment is kept out of reach, and electrical outlets are kept covered to avoid children sticking their fingers or objects into them and risk getting electrocuted.Performing light housekeeping duties such as laundry, vacuuming, and cleaning, maintains a safe environment for the child.
Children who are sick often feel afraid. The job of a HHA/PCA is to help them feel secure by reassuring them, being patient when they try to complete tasks on their own, and being competent (good) in the tasks they complete. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides must also always be on the lookout for signs of abuse or domestic violence. Children need to grow in a safe environment. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides should document and report any signs of abuse or neglect to a supervisor immediately.
Need for Love and Belonging
Once children have met their physical and safety/security needs, the need for love and belonging is the next important level in order for a child to grow and flourish. This need includes feeling that they are loved and cared for. Children need to feel important to other people and to feel that they are a part of something, such as a family or community. Children need to feel special and loved, and that they are a valued part of their family and community. For Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides, the way they care for the children they work with demonstrates to them that they care for and about them. This means being patient, kind, compassionate, understanding, trustworthy and accepting their patient’s thoughts, feelings, and uniqueness, even if they do not agree with them.
Family is an important part of a child’s life and helps them to meet their need for love and belonging. We all have different views of what “family” means to us. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides should be careful not to judge their patient’s family or the ways they think care should be provided to the child. Include the patient’s family in their care whenever possible. HHA/PCAs may also be educating parents and other caretakers in how to care for the child. The need to socialize with other children is also very strong. Children with disabilities may not have as many opportunities to socialize with other children. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides should provide opportunities for the child to play with other children their same age whenever possible.
Need for Self-Esteem
The need for self-esteem is the next level in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Self–esteem involves valuing and respecting oneself and learning that you are a good and worthy person. Self-esteem comes from within us, and from interactions and feedback from other people. When people become sick, injured, or disabled, their self-esteem may be affected. Young children and adolescents are especially vulnerable when it comes to developing positive self-esteem. Being sick may affect the way they see themselves. They may have many emotions about their appearance or physical disability.Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides can help patients to accept physical changes by demonstrating their acceptance. Showing that they are okay with their physical or mental disability will tell the child that they accept them the way they are.
It is also important for HHAs/PCAs to encourage the child to perform as many activities as they can independently. This will help their self-esteem to grow. Treat each child as unique with special talents and strengths. Find out what the child’s interests and talents are and work to encourage their development. Young children need opportunities to play make believe. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides should provide lots of opportunities for the child to play and explore the world.This helps them to try on roles, such as learning to care for a baby by playing with a doll or cooking with their pretend food.
Children can also develop self-esteem by assisting with household chores and being given responsibilities. This helps them to feel that they are contributing to their family. While parents may have the final say in what is best for their child, it is important to remember that the child also has a voice. Allow the child to express their thoughts and feelings and give them choices whenever possible. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides can ask children what outfit they would prefer to wear that day or what toy or activity they would like to play with. Remember to provide lots of praise and encouragement for children as this will help their self-esteem to flourish (grow).
Need for Self-Actualization
The need for self-actualization is the highest level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Self-actualization means that we try to be the best person that we can be and try to reach our full potential. The goals that we each set often change throughout our lives and may change as a result of experiencing an injury, illness, or disability. Remember that it is important to accept others the way they are.If a child has a physical or mental disability, the goals they set may need to be broken down into smaller ones so that they are able to achieve them. An important part of development for children is that they learn to set and work towards goals. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides should help the children with whom they work set goals to achieve things such as learning to dress or feed themselves, completing a jigsaw puzzle, learning to read a book, or even learning to tie their shoes. Provide lots of encouragement and praise as children work towards new goals.
Match the HHA/PCA‘s task to the appropriate level of Maslow‘s Hierarchy
| HHA/PCA‘s task | Maslow‘s Hierarchy |
|---|---|
|
1. Providing opportunities for children to play with others their same age and to be actively involved with their family. |
a. Physical needs |
| 2. Assisting the child with bathing and dressing. | b. Safety and security needs |
| 3. Help the child set a goal of learning how to tie their shoelaces by breaking it down into smaller steps and providing lots of praise along the way. | c. Love and belonging needs |
| 4. Reporting a suspicion of child abuse to a supervisor. | d. Self-esteem needs |
| 5. Giving children a responsibility in the home such as picking up their toys and praising them for doing a good job afterward. | e. Self-actualization needs |
- Answer
-
1) C
2) A
3) E
4) B
5) D
Feedback :
1. Providing opportunities for children to play with others and interact with their families are ways the HHA/PCA can help a child meet their need for Love and Belonging.
2. Assisting children with bathing, dressing, toileting, and eating are helping them meet their basic Physical Needs.
3. Encouraging a child to set goals that are within their reach and helping them achieve those goals by breaking them down into smaller pieces are ways that a HHA/PCA can help a child become the best they can be and meet their Self-actualization Needs.
4. HHA/PCAs must always be alert to any possible instances of domestic violence or child abuse/neglect. Reporting suspicions to a supervisor and the proper authorities helps children to meet their Safety and Security Needs.
5. Providing responsibilities for children in the home and praising them for their completion is an excellent way for HHA/PCAs to help children meet their Self-esteem Needs.