Teaching About Wants vs Needs

[SilverSabre25]

Help me out. We're heading into the greedy-greedy-gimme season, and I would like some ideas about teaching my group about the difference between wants and needs. I keep hearing several of them declaring that they NEEEEEEED this new toy or that new toy or dinner McDonalds or whatever. I get blank stares when i try to explain that no, they don't NEED such a thing.

any good lesson plan type idea on teaching this?

[Leigh]

Help me out. We're heading into the greedy-greedy-gimme season, and I would like some ideas about teaching my group about the difference between wants and needs. I keep hearing several of them declaring that they NEEEEEEED this new toy or that new toy or dinner McDonalds or whatever. I get blank stares when i try to explain that no, they don't NEED such a thing.

any good lesson plan type idea on teaching this?

I hope you get some good replies here...I have a pair of brothers that ask me constantly "will you buy me ____?". It is getting old.

[Blackcat31]

We do a "lesson" on this topic every year. The first thing I try to teach the children is what a "NEED" really is and then the definition of a "WANT".

Then we have discussions about what things a person NEEDS to live; air, water, food, clothing, a home etc....

Then we slowly add other things into the conversation that are WANTS.

Make a big chart like this one:



or have the kids make their own (if they are older) using magazines and pictures to show their wants/needs.


Here is a great worksheet I have that helps too. http://www.learningtogive.org/lesson...chments/2.html

I have a complete lesson plan for wants vs needs ...although it is geared for Kindy kids but I can't attach it because it's too big so here is the google link to it instead. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8_...it?usp=sharing

[Meeko]

Hard to teach kids this, when their parents think the newest big screen TV is a need and paying for daycare isn't.........

[Michael]

Another thread on Wants and Needs: https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59683

[spud912]

Thanks for posting this! I'm looking forward to hearing all of the ideas!

[coolconfidentme]

Casey the Greedy Young Cowboy by Michael P. Waite is about thankfulness. (He makes a list of things he wants) It's in a series of books we read at my DC. The kids loves these books!

[Bookworm]

We do a "lesson" on this topic every year. The first thing I try to teach the children is what a "NEED" really is and then the definition of a "WANT".

Then we have discussions about what things a person NEEDS to live; air, water, food, clothing, a home etc....

Then we slowly add other things into the conversation that are WANTS.

Make a big chart like this one:



or have the kids make their own (if they are older) using magazines and pictures to show their wants/needs.


Here is a great worksheet I have that helps too. http://www.learningtogive.org/lesson...chments/2.html

I have a complete lesson plan for wants vs needs ...although it is geared for Kindy kids but I can't attach it because it's too big so here is the google link to it instead. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8_...it?usp=sharing

I've done this and it really helps.