Navigation
Learning how to tell the difference between things we must have and things we would like to have.
Imagine you are an explorer on a deserted island. You can only bring three things. Would you bring a bag of gold coins, a bottle of water, or a video game? Which one would actually help you stay alive?
A need is something you must have to stay alive, healthy, and safe. Without needs, our bodies and minds could not work properly! There are four main types of needs that every human has: food, clean water, shelter (a place to live), and clothing to keep us warm. Think of needs as your 'must-haves.' If you were a plant, your needs would be sunlight, soil, and water. For humans, we need these things every single day to grow and stay strong.
Let's look at a simple choice: 1. You are walking home and your stomach growls because you haven't eaten. 2. You see an apple and a sticker book. 3. The apple is the need because your body requires fuel (food) to keep moving!
Quick Check
If you had to choose between a warm blanket and a new stuffed animal on a cold night, which one is the 'need'?
Answer
The warm blanket is the need because it provides shelter and warmth for your body.
A want is something that is nice to have, but you can live without it. Wants make life more fun, exciting, or comfortable, but they aren't necessary for survival. Examples of wants include toys, video games, candy, or a trip to the movies. Sometimes, we want things very badly, and they might even feel like needs! However, if you can still be healthy and safe without the item, it is definitely a want. We usually buy wants only after we have taken care of our needs.
Sometimes a need and a want get mixed together: 1. You need a pair of shoes to protect your feet at school. This is a need. 2. You see a pair of plain sneakers for and a pair of sneakers that glow in the dark for . 3. The protection for your feet is the need, but the 'glow-in-the-dark' feature is a want.
Quick Check
Is a television a need or a want?
Answer
A television is a want because you can stay alive and healthy without watching TV.
When we have money, we have to make smart choices. The most important rule in economics is: Pay for needs first. Imagine you have . A healthy lunch costs and a toy car costs . You cannot buy both because , and . Since you need food to stay healthy, you must buy the lunch first. If you have money left over after buying your needs, then you can save up for your wants! This is called prioritizing.
Imagine you have to spend at the store for the week. 1. You must buy bread () and milk () for your family. 2. You also want a new comic book () and a giant chocolate bar (). 3. First, add your needs: . 4. Subtract your needs from your total: . 5. Now you can see if you have enough for both wants: . Since , you have to choose only one want!
Which of these is a basic human need?
If you have and your needs cost , how much money do you have left for wants?
A 'want' is something you must have to stay healthy.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, look around your breakfast table. Can you find one thing that is a 'need' and one thing that is a 'want'?
Practice Activity
Play the 'Need or Want' game: Ask a family member to name an item, and you shout out whether it is a need or a want as fast as you can!