{"id":55237,"date":"2024-04-11T11:10:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T15:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/starr1.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=55237"},"modified":"2024-04-11T11:10:03","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T15:10:03","slug":"school-readiness-and-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starr.org\/2024\/school-readiness-and-success\/","title":{"rendered":"School readiness and success: Are you meeting basic needs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maslow\u2019s Hierarchy of Needs and the Circle of Courage model of Resilience<\/strong><\/p>\n

Conversations and curriculums to promote school readiness in early childhood programs tend to focus on cognitive development, academics, concentration, and focus. In many cases, the priority must be basic needs. For children to be successful in school, they need to be well-fed, sleep well, feel safe at home, and have confidence in themselves. Maslow\u2019s Hierarchy of Needs is a popular theory, which focuses on a series of needs to be successful.\u00a0 He considered five needs \u2013 physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization- and put them in a pyramid. A person reaches their fullest potential, beginning with the foundational aspects of the basic needs \u2013 physiological and safety – and only when those needs are met does a person eventually reach self-actualization.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

The Circle of Courage, a model of resilience, suggests there are four universal needs for all human beings. These fit within the framework of Maslow\u2019s Hierarchy and include belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity.<\/p>\n

Both are helpful reminders that all learners are less likely to succeed if their basic needs are unmet. And for many children experiencing too much stress and trauma, their needs are not met. \u00a0The hierarchy of needs can help identify gaps; for example, breakfast might need to be provided for children who come to school hungry.<\/p>\n

Considerations and Suggestions for meeting needs in early childhood centers<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you go through the details of the needs, this may become clearer in the context of children who are experiencing stress and trauma and what they need most to have a successful school experience.<\/p>\n

Physiological <\/strong>needs include proper nutrition and water, access to fresh air, and enough rest, exercise, and warmth. Trauma-informed considerations include:<\/p>\n

Is the child eating enough nutritious food?
<\/em>What is the child\u2019s sleep schedule?
<\/em>Does the child have shoes that fit correctly? <\/em><\/p>\n

Suggestions to meet physiological needs:<\/p>\n