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Can young children experience all of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?

Posted March 9th 2014

A good number of early childhood educators are familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. His triangle, with physiological needs at the base and self-actualization at the top, is a topic of discussion in most introductory psychology and human development courses. However, it is probably fair to state that most early childhood educators think about Maslow’s Needs in terms of adolescents and adults. Now, I want to invite you to think about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in the light of young children’s development.

For those of you who are not familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy, I will relay it here. Based on observation, theory, and research, Abraham Maslow created a pyramid to describe the needs that humans have, which drive their behavior. The needs are hierarchical in that the basic lower-level needs have to be met before the higher-level needs can be met. Maslow created a five-level triangular hierarchy with basic physiological needs at the bottom of the triangle. These are needs such a food, water, and sleep. The needs at the second level are characterized as safety needs. These are needs such as security and avoidance of threats to one’s health and sense of well-being. The third level represents love and belongingness needs, which include the need to be close to friends and family members, and to experience emotional intimacy. The fourth level contains esteem needs, which entail humans’ desire to achieve, acquire feelings of self-worth, confidence and a positive self-perception. The fifth level is the need for self-actualization. At this level, people fulfill and maximize their potential. People functioning at this level are creative, great problem solvers, spontaneous and usually lack prejudice.

Considering this hierarchy, can young children experience higher levels of need? What can parents, teachers, and other adults do to help young children satisfy lower level needs and to ultimately experience self-actualization?

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Reply from Jennifer S posted on May 28th 2014

Keeping Maslow's hierarchy in mind, I do believe that younger children can experience higher levels of need. Personally, I feel as though development is a progression and with age and ability their is variability in relationship to what level of Maslow's hierarchy an individual can obtain. Self-actualization, or the fifth level, may be more difficult level for younger children to reach in relation to their psychological and physical development. Parents and other adults can assist children with obvious lower level needs such as food, water, sleep, security, love, but it is also plausible for parents to promote higher level needs of their children. One strategy would be to encourage agency in their child, by teaching their child to be active agents in their own environment, the child would be likely to have higher levels of esteem, a better self-perception and agency would help their child obtain self-actualization.

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Reply from Amanda posted on May 25th 2014

I believe that children can experience all five levels of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. However, self-actualiztion will most definitely look different in a young child than it does in adolescents and adult. Parents should be able to fulfill many of the needs in the hierarchy for the child. They need to provide the child with the first-level physiological needs and second-level safety needs through basic parenting skills. Parents can first show their child love to begin to fill the third-level need for emotional intimacy. Teachers can also show children love in their own way. Both parents and teachers can encourage the child to make friends to foster his or her sense of belonging. Parents, and teachers especially, can foster feelings of positive self-esteem and confidence at home and in the classroom to help the child meet is fourth-level esteem needs. By giving the child developmentally appropriate challenges and encouraging feedback the child can believe in themselves and what they can achieve. Lastly, I would like to speculate that the fifth-level need of self-actualization would stem naturally from the child as a result of having the lower-level needs met. If the child is not hungry, is well-rested, feels safe, understands love, is confident, and have a positive self-perception, then self-actualization should naturally follow.

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Reply from Francisco Arreola posted on May 21st 2014

I think that the needs of child should be meet by the parents first before any other adult can assist in developing self-actualization in a child. That this because the child needs to experience how it feels to have their needs meet or else they will have a harder time responding to others. If their lower level needs are meet at an early stage of their lives then they will understand that their needs will be meet by others. If the child's lower level needs are not meet then they will not feel safe and have a harder time developing self-actualization because they're lower levels first need to be met. Therefore it is important that parents become aware of this to make sure they are meeting the needs of their children, so that teachers and other caregivers can also assist in meeting the needs of the child. In doing so the child needs to be in a safe and positive environment so that the child can begin to to experience self-actualization.

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Reply from Anthy Thao posted on May 20th 2014

Children can achieve higher level of need because at such a young age they'll need all the needs that will be necessary for them to develop properly. The sooner parents, teachers or other caregivers provide or expose, slowly, to young children these higher levels of needs, the better outcome the children will be in their future. Parents, teachers and other adults can help young children satisfy lower level needs and to ultimately experience self actualization by providing them a safe and healthy environment. Food, water and sleep are the main factors that will positively benefit these children to live up to the higher levels of hierarchy.

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Reply from Heather posted on May 20th 2014

think that children can definitely experience higher levels of need. The lower levels should be met by their parents/guardians by providing love, security, food, shelter, and basic human needs. Children have their own unique perspectives and expectations of things. I think that adults, teachers, parents need to realize how much help they need to give their child unless it’s known otherwise. Children need to experience things on their own in order to grow developmentally, socially, etc. Teachers need to understand their students individually so they can do to better in meeting their educational needs. If parents and teachers recognize that the child is experiencing different things then they can set better goals and stay within their zone of proximal development and build competence. When children feel safe and secure in the presence of their parents or caregivers they can learn on their own and reach self-actualization.

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Reply from Ashley Conley posted on May 20th 2014

I believe that young children definitely can experience the higher levels of need such as love and belongingness and esteem needs. In order to help them achieve this I think that parents, teachers, and other adults need to not only care for them in proper ways but also set good examples for them as well. If the adults surrounding these children are successfully going through the stages of Maslow's Hierarchy then the children have a better sense of what it looks like to succeed. Obviously the first few stages are necessities in life. Moving into gaining love and belongingness though relays back more on the adults in the children's lives behavior. The parents and caregivers need to give the children as much love and support as possible that way they may feel successful in this stage. The esteem needs can be filled more by the child, however. Young children can gain confidence by being successful in tasks such as taking their first steps or learning how to perform other new tasks.

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Reply from Ma Vang posted on May 20th 2014

I think that young children can experience higher levels of need. What parents, teachers, and other adults can do to help young children satisfy lower level needs is to provide an environment where they feel they are safe and loved. Young children need to know that they have someone who will take care of them when they need the care and that they are safe. I think once they feel that they environment is safe and loving, they will be able to move onto the high levels of need. Unlike adults though, their higher level of need may be a lot more simple. Where adults are "trying to find ourselves" young children may just be trying to overcome their fears or try something new to see if they like it. Its like they are building their profiles. Although it is a bit simpler than adults they are experiencing higher levels of needs.

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Reply from Tanya Taranchuk posted on May 20th 2014

In consideration of Maslow’s Hierarchy, I think children can experience higher levels of need to certain extent. However, in order for children to experience higher levels of need, lower levels of needs to be satisfied first. This means parents, teachers, and other adults need to meet first child’s physiological needs such as providing food, water and shelter. Parents or child’s guardians usually are responsible for meeting these needs but teachers also play a key role in meeting these needs as well such as not denying a child the right to use the restroom or getting a drink. Parents and teachers also need to meet the child’s safety needs. This means parents and teachers need to strive at providing children safe homes and schools. There is a lot of bullying that goes on in schools and teachers need to be observant and educate students about this issue so that children can be educated about how to handle such situations correctly and speak up. As a future teacher, it is very important to me that every student in my classroom would feel safe and appreciated. Another need that parents and teachers need to meet in children is the love and belongingness need. Parents need to build healthy relationships with their children and love them unconditionally. Teachers should also build friendships with their students because that way the teacher can provide the best teaching strategies and tools that can benefit the child the most. It is very important for teachers to understand the child’s background and struggles because when the teacher has that knowledge they will know how to modify their teaching to meet the needs of that child. When all these lower needs are met, the child can put all their energy in achieving higher levels of needs such as self-esteem needs and self-actualization needs. Teachers play important role in meeting a child’s self-esteem needs by making learning interesting and challenging for the child so that they have desire to learn more and achieve more. When these needs are met the child can pursue talent and creativity, and be the best they can be! The reason I said children can experience higher levels of need to certain extent because children’s brains are still developing and depending on what developmental stage they are in the self-actualization needs are not as important to the children because it takes some maturity to be able to understand your experiences and learn a lesson from them or to be able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

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Reply from Abigail Pak posted on May 20th 2014

I think that young children can experience higher levels of need and that they should. Young children should not just be "stuck" in the lower levels and should keep reaching higher and higher up of the pyramid. Like it was stated above, the basic lower level needs have to be met before reaching the higher level needs. So, if young children can do that, that means that they are progressing and developing, instead of being caught at just one level and not being able to move up. In helping the child satisfy their lower level needs, parents, teachers, and other adults can try to build a strong and safe environment for the child and care for the child. Be able to provide the child with their basic needs (food, water, etc.) and be able to provide safeness for the child (protection, security, etc.). Also, give love to the child and do not show resentment or ignore the child because then they could feel unimportant and get emotionally damaged and it could result in the child being held in the level of need. Lastly, have the child try new experiences and help them to succeed which can build their self-esteem and boost up their confidence.

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Reply from Kim Lumbang posted on May 20th 2014

In their own way, yes, children can experience higher levels of need. I think that life as a child does not call for complex needs, as long as they are being provided the lower levels of needs by their caretaker. They may not have the complex goals that older children or adults have, such as working towards “finding who they are” by graduating college or being hired at their dream job. Achieving self-actualization can be as little as mastering the monkey bars at the playground or overcoming the fear of going down the slide. These could be the things that mean everything to a child, no matter how miniscule it may seem to others. In that case, maybe children don’t necessarily need complete fulfillment of the lower levels to feel as if they are fulfilled. Simple love, care, and support from others could be all that children need, whereas adults and adolescences may strive for more.

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Reply from Courtney Morales posted on May 20th 2014

As a preschool teacher of two year olds, I have witnessed the importance of the hierarchy of needs. Without the proper food, sleep and water, a child is unable to function, learn, or develop. Secondly, children need to be in a safe, warm environment in order to feel comfortable enough to learn, explore and develop. That is why a child's home or classroom's environment is so important. In addition to the environment, a child must feel loved and cared for. When they have that feeling, they are more likely to feel comfortable enough in themselves to try new things, learn, make friends and important social connections. All of thise things are important to building a child's self-esteem or confidence. When they have people who love and care for them and friends and family they can share in thei lives with , they are able to be confident and have a positive self-worth. all of these things combined, lead to a child becoming self-actualized. I believe if children are given everything they need at each of the levels, they can reach or experience the higher levels of need. As teachers and parents, we need to make sure we are providing what these children need at the lower level, such as the proper nutrition, environments, and positive, loving relationships.

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Reply from Marina F posted on May 19th 2014

On my opinion, as a child grows into adult his basic or physical needs don’t change, but socio/emo life fuels self-esteem and grows (person needs more) proportionally to self-actualization. On the early stage a child has less developed self-esteem and his need for self-actualization is lower. For example, my son knows I love him (parents’ love is enough on this stage), he feels good about it and wants to make me happy, so he tries to do everything he can on his level to prove worthiness: draws a picture, works hard to pass a test, helps in the kitchen, etc. Parents and teachers are responsible for stimulating his need for self-actualization by giving him chances to fulfil his need for it. (I actually drew a picture of how I see the pyramid works, but it can’t transfer to the blog.)

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Reply from sujey posted on May 19th 2014

Yes, in my opinion children can experience higher levels of need with the help of parents, teachers and caregivers. I believe that parents and caregivers are responsible for the basic physiological needs and safety of the children. Further, they should provide support and encouragement to children as it is their responsibility to make sure that the children experience self-actualization. By encouraging children to always do their best, by showing them love and by protecting them, children will eventually experience self-actualization.

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Reply from Carly posted on May 14th 2014

As long as the children have their lower level needs met, then it seems plausible that they could achieve higher levels of need. The lower levels are met by their parents, by providing love, security and basic human needs. Most parents do this without giving it a second thought. The child's experiences will obviously be different in the higher levels (especially self actualization) than an adults would. Most children have a positive self image, almost to a fault, they believe they can do anything. So the fifth level is possible. Rather than being a great problem solver, they might be very creative, which we often see in children.

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Reply from Amberly Seelapasay posted on May 13th 2014

Considering this hierarchy, I believe young children can experience higher levels of need. If children receive support, they can fulfill the needs of one level and move on to the next one. Parents can support the all the needs in the hierarchical levels in the pyramid in order for the child to eventually reach self-actualization. Parents would need to provide the basics of food, water, shelter, safety and be affectionate with their child so the child feels close to the family. If parents fail to provide these basics, teachers and other adults can step in and help the child fill these needs. Teachers can support the belongingness needs in level three as well as self-esteem needs as teachers often assess and test children on what is taught. Parents and teachers can help children with their self-esteem by praising the children and providing instances where children can do things themselves to foster their confidence. Since people functioning at the fifth level are creative, great problem solvers, spontaneous and usually lack prejudice, parents and teachers can encourage these specific behaviors with the children.

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Reply from Alina Slivinskaya posted on May 13th 2014

I believe that it depends on where you are and what culture you are part of. Teachers should adapt to whatever strategy is beneficial to the students in the classroom. Although, you need a standard and teachers should have a guideline, but they should be able to go around it if needed because each child learns differently and the standards may not apply evenly between all classes. Teachers should provide the children with skills they will need now and later on in their future, but it satisfies their intrinsic learning.

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Reply from Brianne Moreno posted on May 13th 2014

I think that children definitely can experience experience higher levels of need from Maslow's Hierarchy. Young children are smarter than they seem and they understand the lower levels of the pyramids such as the needs, safety needs, and love and belongingness. Next is the level that contains esteem. I think children at a young age have the desire to expereince achievement. It starts when kids are in preschool and kindergarten with simple things such as behavior charts and/ or cards. Children that are on their best behavior will recieve gold stars on their line of the chart and if they earn so many they can become a "star student". This simple desire to want to become a "star student" is an example of one of the higher levels of needs. Every year, the curriculum gets tougher and tougher for these young children and at earlier ages they are exposed to the idea of achievement and when they do finally achieve something and are recognized for it, they feel some type of self-worth and their confidence then boosts. Although this stage can happen early in life too, I think that the fifth level will ultimately be reached at an older age because it needs life experiences to fulfill and maximize their full potential. Parents, teachers, and other adults can provide children with the basic necessities of life. The basic necessities are the foundation for the rest of the pyramid and if these are missing then there is a slim chance that a young child will be able to fulfill their max potential.

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Reply from Breanna Burton posted on May 8th 2014

It seems reasonable to assume that young children can experience higher levels of need, although this might manifest itself differently than it does in adolescence or adulthood. Starting in infancy, children desire to develop an attachment relationship with their primary care giver (third level). In addition, many articles discuss children’s feelings of self-esteem and self-worth and how children’s perceptions are powerful in predicting their achievement and motivation behavior (fourth level). The research confirms that children that experience positive peer relationships and positive self-esteem are more like to excel in problem solving and creative tasks. To optimize children’s experiences, parents and teachers can take several steps to help assist children in reaching the highest level of Maslow Hierarchy. The first step is to get to know the child personally. For teachers, this may first involve understanding the child’s background and what kinds of experiences the child is having inside and outside of the classroom. Next, parents and teachers may work on fostering positive peer relations by promoting social and emotional learning. This can help provide children with necessary skills that could boost their self-esteem and self-worth perceptions. Lastly, providing challenges that fosters children’s creativity can help children realize their full potential.

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Reply from Erin Hammer posted on May 5th 2014

I believe that children have the ability to experience Maslow's higher levels of need if those around them assist in facilitating the child's experiences. When you provide children with the opportunity to challenge themselves and their minds I think they are capable of more than the adult and even the child them self realizes. Children have their own unique perspectives on the world and the adults especially their teachers can help streamline their individual learning to help them achieve these higher levels. Through scaffolding and close attention to the child's zone of proximal development both teachers and the child's classmates can expedite learning.

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Reply from youth posted on May 5th 2014

Maslow\'s hierarchy of needs can also be applied to young children\'s development. To answer the question to this post, yes young children can experience higher level of needs. Just as adults, it is apparent that children have the lower physiological needs such as food water, and sleep to grow and learn. The next step is to forming relationships and having secure attachments to adults to feel loving and belonging as children build their esteem or self worth. The basis of Marlow\'s pyramid not only benefit adults and adolescents, but forms a foundation to facilitate optimal learning experiences to young children, optimizing their learning potential. Just as adults and adolescents, Marlow\'s pyramid can be a generalized basis to facilitate learning or optimizing potential for individuals of all ages.

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Reply from youth posted on May 5th 2014

To add to this, adults can aid children to experience higher needs to by providing that physiological need and then being present or available to children in building that secure attachment relationship. With confidence of belonging and forming high self esteem at a younger age, children use their environment to maximize their potential. Adults can create that environment to support creativity, curiosity, and exploration.

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Reply from Monica Ogaz posted on May 5th 2014

Children have a need to experience higher levels of needs or so I believe. I have noticed when I challenge my kindergarten classes to do more, they actually enjoy it. Children love to feel responsible, and they love to be pushed to their limit, that being said though, not all children in particular but for the most part a good majority do feel more accomplished when in the right environment can experience their maximum potential to fulfill the task at hand. Even when a child doesn't reach their full potential, encourage it. I ask the parents of my students to have their children tested at home, where they can give their child a task and stand back and see if the child is able to complete something as easy as putting away their toys. Children need to be challenged not only to experience self-actualization but to be able to experience self-worth. I think that other adults, teachers, and parents, should limit the amount of aid they give children unless it is clear enough for one to see that the child does need help than to step in. When a child is able to complete a task without the help of an adult, one will hear the shrieks, shouts, and sometimes the words of joy from that child who has completed his or her task on their own.

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Reply from Devona Sisenglath posted on May 5th 2014

Children can definitely experience higher levels of needs when and if they are put in the right environment. Children who are constantly being challenged to figure out what they want or to figure things out on their own will easily experience their maximum potential to fulfill that task. Doing so will also result in building self-worth for achieving that experience on their own, therefore gaining self confidence as well. As parents and educators, we need to create an environment and situations where children aren't just meeting the average potential of development, but where they can be challenged to do a little better each time. Children are oftentimes being aided through situations or problems where they are able to solve by themselves. As educators, we must stand back and watch until, of course, a certain time or limit of the child. Also, children (oftentimes more than adults) gain so much self confidence and self esteem when they realize that they are able to do things on their own and not with the help of an adult.

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Reply from Alina Slivinskaya posted on May 3rd 2014

Children can experience higher levels of needs. To move up the triangle children need their parents help to get satisfied because the cant do it themselves. Parents can provide their children with water, food, and protection. The parents also need to provide their child with a safe home and make sure they are safe with their teachers at school. For the child to move up the levels in the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs triangle parents can show their children love, support, care and positive reinforcement to help the children boost their self-esteem. On the other hand, teachers and other adults can provide love, encouragement, positive reinforcement and support also for the children to help them learn.

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Reply from Gee Lor posted on May 2nd 2014

Considering Maslow's hierarchy of needs, it is possible that young children can experience higher level of needs. Parents, teachers, and other adults can certainly help satisfy young children's lower level of needs by simply providing food, water, shelter, and protection. This will be the foundation on which the child can explore higher levels of needs because they feel safe, protected and cared for. I believe that parents, teachers and other adults can also help children to experience self-actualization by scaffolding to provide opportunities for children to experience problem solving and creativity to fulfill and maximize their potential.

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Reply from Amanda Huynh posted on April 26th 2014

Considering Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, it is highly possible that children, like adults, must have their most basic physiological needs met before they can attain a desire for achievement and learning. As such, parents and teachers can assist in promoting this desire about ensuring that the children’s basic needs are met. Parents, for example, can sufficiently provide food, shelter, and protection for their children. This will satisfy their children’s most basic humanistic needs. Similarly, teachers can also provide children, during school times, with satisfying breakfast and/or lunch meals, and adequate shelter and protection to feel safe and guarded. Doing so will allow students an effective, safe, and secure learning environment. Only when a child is provided with satisfying meals, feels safe, supported, and protected, will they be able to focus on their learning capabilities. Apart from doing so, I believe that parents, teachers, and surrounding adults can also assist in a child’s desire to learn by offering encouragement.

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Reply from Janessa posted on April 23rd 2014

In my opinion young children do experience higher levels of needs. It is obvious that they experience lower levels of needs by the simple fact that they cry when they are hungry or even wet. As far as higher levels go I feel that when children simply want to be held they are displaying higher levels of needs or even when you enter a room and their face lights up and they reach for you. Parent shave the responsibility of making sure their children experience self-actualization and this can be done by encouraging them to always do their best, as well as by showing them love and making sure that they know that you are there to help and protect them. Teachers and other adults have similar responsibilities mainly to encourage and help the child be the best they can be.

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Reply from Bernardina Garcia posted on April 22nd 2014

In my point of view I believe young children are able to experience higher levels of needs. The lower levels of needs in Maslow's triangular hierarchy are essential for children grow, and with the help of parents and teachers this needs are met. The same way for self-actualization if parents and teachers encourage children that they are smart and able to accomplish their goals they will experiecen self-actualization. Although children are still not completetly develop in their concrete thinking they are able to solve problems and be creative if they have the support and foundation from adults to do so.

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Reply from Shae Wall posted on April 15th 2014

With my understanding of Maslow's triangular hierarchy, I feel that children can experience higher levels of need. Children have to have their needs met to move up the triangle, so it would determine on how well their parents meet their child's needs. Parents, teachers and other adults close to the child need to show that child that they will always help them. The parents need to provide security so the child can always feel safe at home and safe with teachers at school. Parents need to take care of the child and give them their needs to survive, such as food, water, shelter. They also need to focus on love and encouragement to boost self esteem in the child. Once the child has their needs met in a positive manner, then they will be able to have their higher needs met.

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Reply from Irina Kalyuta posted on April 6th 2014

I believe that young children can experience higher levels of need. Parents, teachers and adults in general can provide support and encouragement to children. In addition, parents should make sure that their child receives enough food and gets enough of rest before sending them to school. Parents and teachers should also provide a safe environment in order for their child/student to learn.

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Reply from oscar brambila posted on April 5th 2014

I believe children can experience higher levels of need especially love, confidence and creativeness by putting them in the right situation or environment. By doing so love and belongingness will come. Parents and teachers can ensure the child has food and enough rest. They can also be there to support the child and comfort and encourage them to strive to do their very best. They basically ensure that children feel safe in their surroundings and environment.

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Reply from Valeriya posted on March 31st 2014

I want to start from the bottom on the pyramid making my explanation to the top. Realistically young children are well capable of following Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Children observably acquire and most are given the basic physiological such as food, water, shelter and warmth. As infants, the attachment between the caregiver and the new born, establishes based on the safety met from Maslow’s hierarchy. Thus yes, a new born infant is capable of experiencing the second basic need. As a child grows older, the love and belonging that is exchanged within the family is genuine, also fulfilling the third basic requirement before establishing self-actualization. I work at a pre-school and regularly I observe children as young as fifteen months express self-esteem by doing well at a specific task in an activity. Children conceivably show proud emotions better than adults do, because before they feel self-worth or recognizing of their capability, they call for praise. Lastly the self-actualization in children is met through recognition of capability and constant support in a child’s interest. This allow them to recognize their interests and what they may be good at. If a child develops a skill for outdoor activities, sports, or even art, then having a caregivers support allows the child to fulfill their creativity! Just as parents support a child’s learning, basic needs and physical activity, teachers are to follow the parents every step. Clear communication between parents and teachers must be shared, so teachers be more aware what the child is interested in and provide additional support for growth. School is a perfect education environment for growth in achieving self-actualization. The child has the opportunity of exploring his/er interests and gather support and guidance of the teacher. -Valeriya Zozulya

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Reply from Macy Gomez posted on March 31st 2014

I believe that children are able to experience the higher level of needs with the help of parents, teachers and caretakers. Since Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a system of hierarchy children must establish basic needs of breathing, food and sleep before they establish needs of self-actualization such as morality and creativity. I believe that parents and caretakers are responsible for the basic physiological needs and safety. Teachers should be able to see if these needs are met and should assist children who are not getting these needs. Teachers and parents are able to help with the needs of love and belonging. Teachers in the classroom can help children by promoting healthy friendships. In the home parents can give love and have family nights and family dinner that promote family togetherness. Esteem can be promoted in the home and in the classroom when adults around the children explain the importance of respect and give respect to the child. These lower needs of the hierarchy are important in order to gain self-actualization. It is important for all the caretakers in the child’s life to understand Maslow’s hierarchy.

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Reply from Laura posted on March 31st 2014

I believe that children are able to experience higher levels of needs, but it just might not be shown and expressed to adults. I feel like parents can play a huge role in helping younger children to satisfy lower level needs by creating a relationship that the children learn from them. I feel like when children have a secure attachment with their parent they can feel those lower levels satisfied. Teachers can help with the self-worth and confidence by teaching that stuff in the classroom. Even little children want to feel good about themselves in the classroom with their friends. I believe that children can reach self-actualization by participating in all of the other levels and creating their own happy life as a child.

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Reply from Olivia Briceno posted on March 26th 2014

I believe that children are able to experience higher levels of need and that Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs does not only apply to adolescents and adults. Children most certainly go through the basic needs which consist of the physiological needs and safety needs. Parents, teachers, and other adults in the child's life can help the child through each level by providing support through each. For the most part, the child relies on the caregiver for their physiological and safety needs even through adolescence. Teachers and other adults (as well as the caregivers) can help the child through the level of belongingness by showing encouragement through school and any social situations they encounter. Additionally in a classroom situation, if the child feels supported by their teacher, this can contribute to esteem needs and feelings of self worth. A child can also achieve self actualization by reaching their developmental full potential. Their potential will eventually increase over their development and maturation with the continuous encouragement of their caregivers, teachers, and other adults.

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Reply from Calysta Gable posted on March 25th 2014

Children can most certainly experience higher levels of needs, but only if they have a strong foundation that supports their lower levels of needs. Parents, teachers, and other adults who are within the child's circle of trust can provide encouragement, love, stability, and support. It's important for teachers to make sure their students are challenged in the classroom, but not so much that they are failing to keep up. It can make a huge difference in a child's life when they have a teacher who encourages the child's creativity and personal growth. Also if parents aren't able to provide the child with the lower levels of needs, other adults need to step in to make sure that child isn't being neglected for a long period of time. Even just a little bit of neglect can hinder a child's development even having a negative impact on them as an adult.

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Reply from Devona Sisenglath posted on May 5th 2014

I agree with you 100%. With guidance, children need to be challenged in a way that will help them grow. And with the right encouragement , love, and support, children will be able to achieve more on their own than they realize.

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Reply from Betsy Uda posted on March 21st 2014

If children are raised in safe and supportive environments, they can obtain some form of self-actualization. Parents, teachers and other adults need to offer children the security, opportunities and experiences that allow them to both explore and develop mastery of skills needed to build confidence in their own abilities.

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Reply from Alexis Dixon posted on March 10th 2014

Given Maslow's hierarchy I think children can experience the higher levels of need, including love and belongingness needs as they establish strong bonds with friends and family members. Additionally, children can achieve esteem needs as they encounter incidences in which they are applauded and their actions are reaffirmed thus boosting their confidence. Children may even be able to achieve self-actualization as they maximize their potential with their given resources and developmental progress. A child's self-actualization may occur as they efficiently and effectively solve problems that are before them, as well as conduct themselves in a manner that lacks prejudice with regards to things and people. In an effort to help young children satisfy their lower level needs of physiological needs and safety needs, parents, teachers, and adults can ensure that children have food, water, and sufficient sleep; they can also be a support system for the child thus consoling them in time of need and being there for the child when they are scared, thus making the child feel safe.

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Reply from Erin Hammer posted on March 10th 2014

I definitely believe that children can experience higher levels of Maslow\'s needs. Erikson\'s first stages of development state that children require experiences to allow them to feel safe and loved as well as competent and capable. These stages are aligned with Maslow\'s hierarchy of needs for belonging (third level) and self-esteem (fourth level). I think that parents and teachers can help children reach these higher levels by understanding their different stages of development. By knowing the child as an individual you can better meet their needs during each sensitive period during the stages. If a parent or teacher recognizes that the child may be experiencing love self-esteem they can help them set achievable goals and stay within their zone of proximal development so they can build competence. If a child feels safe and secure with their parents or caregivers they can better explore and learn on their own to reach self-actualization.