Maslow's Hierarchy of Need

Author: Margaret Simms

Back in the day, and way back when in 1943,                Abraham Maslow looked closely at the human race and discovered  that we all had needs.  

Early Years practitioners have needs too, as do the children in their care. You may have been asked to look up Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. May I encourage you to find out about Abraham Maslow too? For example, where was he born? What was his family background? You can form your own opinion on where his thoughts came from and how he reached the conclusions he did. However you do not necessarily have to agree with him ....

Maslow labelled our fundamental needs and prioritised them in order of  importance - beginning with the most basic needs health, food and sleep. Not a bad start; none of us function very well at work when we are unwell, hungry or over-tired. (Ooh! I can just imagine the atmosphere in the staff room).

Maslow's first label then is PHYSIOLOGICAL needs. Maslow places physiological needs at the base of the Hierarchy of Need model http://changingminds.org/explanations/needs/maslow.htm.

Secondly. Maslow also recognised that the human race tends to like to live in SAFETY and out of danger. Yep! Sounds fair to me. Early Years practitioners know all about making the environment safe for young children and they too like to know they are safe at work, in the streets and at home. Yes, a comforting thought. SAFETY is Maslow's second layer on his model of needs.

Next Maslow seems to think that we all want to belong. When our PHYSIOLOGICAL needs have been met and we live in SAFETY, we have time to think about BELONGING.  What happens when we don't feel that sense of BELONGING at work? Left out, undervalued, lonely? We see it in children at play - adult life is no different. A sense of BELONGING is important to most of us.

Okay, our PHYSIOLOGICAL needs, our need for SAFETY and BELONGING are all met, and we are merrily giving and receiving ESTEEM, after all, we all want to feel good about ourselves and our work don't we? What is next?

According to Abraham Maslow we are now ready for SELF- ACTUALISATION. SELF- ACTUALISATION is about becoming  what we are capable of becoming. 

Remember those old school reports? 

I do

 "...is capable of more." 

"... has achieved her full potential."

So there we have Maslow's opinion on the five fundamental needs of the every human being. Since Maslow's early observations in 1943 he, and others, have continued to add more  layers to the hierarchy of needs model; indeed many more models have been developed based on Maslow's model. 

Maslow seemingly makes a lot of sense, but personally I feel slightly uncomfortable about the motivation behind his hierarchy. Of course I need good health, food, sleep, safety and esteem as I strive to fulfill my goals in life. But if being powerful and rich is about esteeming others just so that I can get to the top of the organisation or using friends as rungs on my ladder to success - you can count me out!  

There are higher ways of living. Early Years teams will benefit when members genuinely put the needs of colleagues and teams before their own needs; when they encourage one another just because they can, and not for any ulterior motive and promotion. Being undervalued is no fun at all.

Take the lead in your setting today - encourage. 

Here are some examples and interpretations for you to follow up and make up your own mind up about what young children and Early Years practitioners need: 

http://www.jacqueline-oud.com

http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/senecavalleyhs/childdev/maslow.gif

www.volunteerfamily.org/.../Who/Children.aspx

www.miraclefoundation.org/index.php?pid=292

http://webpages.uah.edu/~caldwea/portfolio/philosophy.html

and ...

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/EYFS/Childdevelopment/

www.kidsafeuk.co.uk/kidsafeukworkshops.htm

http://www.littlegrowbags.co.uk/2.htm

http://www.children.gov.za/CoolStuff/ChildRights.html

http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/ete/sen/

http://www.open2.net/healthliving/family_childdevelopment/art_child_spirituality.html