All kids need the basics of life – like food, warmth, shelter and clothing. But they also need to feel loved and secure. By giving our children all the things they need, we can help them be safe, strong and thrive.

The NZ Ministry of Social Development offers these Top 10 Needs of Small Children:

One: Meeting their everyday needs

Babies and children need to know there is someone who loves them and that their needs will be met as soon as possible. This means:

• feeding them when they’re hungry
• keeping them warm, dry and safe from danger
• helping them if they are in pain, scared or upset
• providing family routines
• making sure there is always someone you trust to look after them.

A few minutes is a long time for a baby who is feeling hungry or upset. The sooner they are comforted the safer they will feel.

Older children might be able to wait a little longer, but they still need to know that you will feed them when they are hungry, and help them when they are sad or in pain.

When I cry:
I’m a baby. I’ll cry an average of two to five hours every day, it’s my way of talking. Go through this checklist when I cry and it will help you work out what’s wrong (and if I won’t stop, just love me anyway!).

Crying checklist:

• Please check my nappy
• See if I’m hungry or uncomfortable
• Make sure I’m not in pain or have a fever (if I do, call a doctor)
• Wrap me safely in a soft blanket and cuddle me
• Take me for a ride in a buggy or car
• Place me in a bouncy chair or gentle infant swing
• Play soft music, sing or hum quietly
• Give me a soothing bath.

Two: Feel safe and secure

When children feel safe and secure, they learn to trust other people. Children who do’t feel safe can be anxious and unhappy. This can affect their health and learning. But when they learn that they can trust the adults around them, it helps them grow up happy, healthy and to enjoy the world around them.

Firstly, we make children feel safe by meeting their basic needs. But we also make them feel safe by showing them that we love them.

Three: Love and hugs

Hugs and cuddles help children to feel safe and comforts them. Holding your children, picking them up, sitting them on your lap, kissing and cuddling, are all good ways to show that you care.

Babies and toddlers usually love games like bouncing them on your knee, gently tickling, and games that involve wiggling their fingers or toes can be lots of fun.

Holding a toddler’s hand when out walking helps to protect them from danger and to feel safe and secure in the outside world.

Older children need lots of affection to remind them that you care. You can do this with cuddles, a ‘goodnight’ kiss and a pat on the shoulder. Snuggling up close while reading a story together or watching TV is great for your child and you.

Think about your childhood…
If you were bought up with lots of hugs and praise from your parents, then this will be normal for you. But if you weren’t bought up like that, it might feel strange to do these things. The more you do it, the more natural it will feel. Keep asking yourself:

• What is good for my child?
• What kind of parent do I want to be?

Four: Plenty of praise

Your child wants to please you. If you praise them when they do well at something or are trying hard, it will make them want to do it again. Praising your child for being good will make them want to be good, and it will help them feel good about themselves.
Children who feel good about themselves tend to:

• learn more easily and make more effort to achieve
• get into less trouble
• get on well with others
• make friends more easily
• feel happier and more secure.

Five: Smiles

Give a new baby lots of smiles, and smiling will be one of the first things they learn to do for you.

Smiling is one of the most simple ways of helping children feel happy and safe. When you smile at children you are telling them that:

• you love them
• you enjoy their company
• you are pleased with them
• you are taking notice of them
• you are happy
• you are good fun to be with.

Smiles work even better when you are looking into your child’s eyes. Good eye contact when smiling, listening or talking to your child helps to get their attention.

Six: Talking

It’s good to talk and sing to babies from the time they are born. A gentle voice helps your child to feel relaxed and secure. It helps them to get to know you, and to know that you are there to look after them.

When you talk to children they soon start learning words themselves. The more you talk to them, the more they will learn.

They will also learn more if you use proper adult words most of the time. Learning words helps them to communicate and to understand more about the world. As they get older, words will become one of their most important tools.

Children with a good use of words find it easier to express themselves, to make friends, and to learn at school and at home.

Some ideas for talking to your children:

It’s easy to switch off when you’re busy and tired, but try to put aside a few minutes a day to talk to your child.

A quiet time together before bed: This can just be a few minutes of talking about your day and it will make it a special time.

Name games: When kids are learning words, play games like “Where’s your tummy?”… “Where’s the cat?”… “What’s that?”

Bedtime stories: Or just read books at any time. Even if kids are young, they like looking at the pictures.

Sing: Songs and waiata are a great way to learn words.

Talk topic: Ask them to pick a topic, and you can tell them a story about it from your own childhood.

Play ‘highs and lows’: If your child is a bit older, talk about the best thing and worst thing that happened that day.

Seven: Listening

As they get older and more able to use word, children begin to ask lots of questions. By listening carefully and doing your best to answer their questions, you will show them that learning is fun. Listening is another way of showing that you are interested and care about them. Even when kids are asking for something they can’t have, they need an answer and a simple explanation.

A scrapbook for your child

Children love stories about themselves – it helps them feel loved and important. You could make a scrapbook or album that’s all about your child from the time they were born. Put all sorts of things in it:

• a handprint
• photos
• things they’ve said
• a favorite birthday card

Read it with your child as a special reward or treat, or to comfort them.

Eight: Learn new things

You don’t need fancy toys or equipment to give your child new experiences. You can use everyday things around you, go for walks or explore the beach or park. Why not start a shell collection – or look for special stones? Or what about joining a toy library?

It makes learning fun and teaches them about the world.

They need other people too – other children to play with and relationships with people of all ages.

For older children it’s good to be involved in their school activities and homework, and to meet with their teacher often.

New experiences can include simple things like:

• tell a story from your childhood
• play a game:
  • a boardgame if they’re older
  • peek-a-boo if they’re younger
  • or naming games like ‘I spy..’
• sing a song or waiata
• explore the house and garden
• read a book (even if babies like the pictures)
• teach your kids shapes and colours
• take your kids to a friend’s place to visit
• praise your children for something new they did
• or something they did well
• take your child for a walk to the park, beach or anywhere near by
• do some drawing, painting or colouring
• pick up stones, look at flowers…new experiences are everywhere for kids.

Nine: Take care of their feelings

Sometimes it’s hard for children to find the right words, or tell you when they are sad or frightened.

Babies and small children can be frightened by anything new and different, when there is no real danger. A stranger, a clown, or a loud noise, can all be very scary for a toddler who is not used to them. Sometimes you might feel tempted to laugh, to tease them or or tell them ‘not to be silly’. What they really need is for you to comfort them and give them a simple explanation.

This will help them feel good about themselves, and feel OK about talking to you if they have a serious problem.

Ten: Rewards and special treats

All parents want their children to behave. If you give kids attention when they are good, it will make them want to be good more often. If you only notice them when they are naughty, it might make them want to be naughty more often.

The best reward for being good is getting your time and attention. Taking time to play and have fun together doesn’t have to cost money. A picnic, a walk in the park or a trip to the beach can be lots of fun.

An idea for giving kids your time and attention…

Make them a scrapbook

Children love stories about themselves – it helps them feel loved and important. You could make a scrapbook or album that’s all about your child from the time they were born. Put all sorts of things in it:

• a handprint
• photos
• things they’ve said
• a favorite birthday card.

Read it with your child as a special reward or treat – or to comfort them.