What is a Need?

A need is something you must have to live and stay healthy. Without our needs, our bodies could not grow or work properly. Think of needs as your body's "must-haves." There are four main needs that every human on Earth shares: food, water, shelter, and clothing. These things keep us safe from the cold, give us energy to play, and help us stay hydrated. While we might want many things, like toys or candy, we only need these four things to survive.

Our bodies are like little engines that need fuel to run! Food gives us the energy to run, jump, and think. But not all food is the same. To stay healthy, we need to eat nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Water is just as important. Most of your body is actually made of water! We need to drink it every day so our hearts and brains can do their jobs. If we go too long without water, we feel very tired and sick.

The last two needs protect us from the world around us. Shelter is a place where you live, like a house or an apartment. It keeps you dry when it rains and safe while you sleep. Clothing is what we wear on our bodies. It protects our skin from the hot sun and keeps us warm when the wind blows cold. Depending on the weather, we might need different clothes, but we always need something to protect us!