Needs and wants

Have you ever felt a deep rumble in your belly that says, “Feed me.”. Or have you felt your eyelids get super heavy and all you want to do is curl up for a nap. That feeling is your body telling you something important. But what about that other feeling. The one you get when you walk past a toy store and see the most amazing, shiny, brand-new race car in the window. Or when you finish a yummy scoop of chocolate ice cream and your brain shouts, “More, please.”. Those feelings are a little different, aren't they. They are both powerful urges, one a quiet rumble and one a loud, excited shout. I’m the little voice inside you that helps you tell the difference. You can call me Needs and Wants.

Let me tell you about my two parts, who are like best friends: Need and Want. A Need is something your body and heart absolutely must have to be healthy, safe, and strong. Think about things like fresh water to drink, healthy food to eat, clean air to breathe, and a cozy home to keep you warm and safe. A big hug from your family is a need, too, because love helps you grow on the inside. A Want is something extra that makes life more fun and exciting, but you would be okay without it. A want is like a trip to the movies, a cool new video game, or a colorful new bike. For a very long time, people have tried to understand me. A kind and clever man named Abraham Maslow thought about me a lot. On July 1st, 1943, he shared a big idea with the world. He said my friend Need was like the bottom of a pyramid or a stack of building blocks. You have to have the most important needs, like food and safety, at the bottom. Once those blocks are in place, you can add more on top, like making friends and learning new things.

Understanding me is like having your very own superpower. It's your Smart-Choice Superpower. Knowing the difference between a need and a want helps grown-ups make smart choices with their money, like buying groceries for the family before buying a fancy new gadget. This superpower also helps you understand why you can’t always get everything you want right away. It teaches you patience, which is waiting calmly, and gratitude, which is being thankful for all the wonderful things you already have. The very best part of this superpower is that it helps you be a kind and caring person. When you understand your own needs, you can look around and see when others might need help. Maybe a friend needs a snack because they're hungry, or someone needs a safe place to play. Understanding me helps you share, help, and make the world a much kinder place for everyone.