This Wants Vs. Needs article began as an assignment for a job I applied to. I wrote this first part, reread the requirements and decided that it didn’t work. So, I wrote a second article, which I really thought of as an extension of the first article. To really make this type of post successful in a banking situation, you would want to start with a core document and build post that link to and from that core document.

Wants Vs. Needs: A Parent’s Primer for Teaching Kids

As a parent, you likely hear “I want…” from your child 10 to 12 times a day. With the amount of media children are exposed to every day, they are sure to see things that advertisers and influencers have put out there to entice them to buy. Now, is the time to start teaching your children about needs vs. wants.

What Are Needs?

To teach your children about needs vs. wants, you need to be able to define them for yourself, especially if you were never taught the difference. It’s not as easy as it might seem. Your conceptions of needs and wants is going to be based on your values. However, there are a few categories you can use to help define “needs.”

Food, clothing, and shelter are the three traditional needs. Many people would add physical, emotional, and mental health to the list. For others, education and spiritual well-being are also on the list of needs. You might even find yourself adding transportation to your list, especially if you have to commute to work. If you are unsure of what your needs are, make a short list of broad topics.

Once you have your list of needs, you’ll likely see that many needs require money. Even if you own your shelter, you probably need to pay property taxes or utilities.

What Are Wants?

Wants are everything that is not a need. Again, that’s easy to say, but the reality is more difficult. Is a banana a need or a want? You need food, but you don’t have to eat bananas. Are a pair of $75 dress shoes a need or a want? You could buy $30 dress shoes, but they won’t be as comfortable or durable. You need transportation to and from work, but you want a convertible to arrive in style.

Wants Vs. Needs

Fortunately, when you’re dealing with children, you don’t have to get into the nuances of needs vs. wants. Many times, it is better to start with a simple explanation, and as they grow, look at the nuances between the two.

The Real Wants Vs. Needs Article

As a parent, you know it’s important to start teaching your children the difference between wants and needs early. You won’t be able to avoid all the “I wants” a child has, but with some easy activities, you can give your child critical thinking tools to help decide whether something is a need or a want.

Define “needs”

First, you’ll want to define needs for the child in an age-appropriate fashion. Generally, people start with the three basic physical needs: food (what you eat), clothing (what you wear), and shelter (where you live). This offers easy, tangible items the child can see and touch. As they get older, you can have more difficult conversations about needs and wants.

Show Me the Needs Game

After you have explained the basic needs, you can test your child’s knowledge with some easy games. One easy game to play is to have the child show you the needs in the house. Start in any room and ask the child to find what items you need. This works for children who may be non-verbal because they can point to the items.

Wants and Needs Flash Cards

Flash cards are a good way to test knowledge, and you don’t have to buy them. You can cut pictures out of a magazine and paste them on to 3×5 cards. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, you and your child can draw them together. You’ll need pictures of needs and wants. Hold up two cards and ask which is a need. If the child picks the card you think is a want, ask them why they chose that card.

Color the Needs

A wants and needs coloring page can also be a helpful tool. Again, you’ll want to understand why the child chose to color certain items as needs if you think they are wants. Once children know what they need, they can make wiser decisions with their money. They can also recognize that saving their money for a want is a good idea.