What are the developmental needs of children?

Developmental needs appear at some point in an individual’s life and require fulfillment. If successfully fulfilled, this individual will grow happier and more satisfied and more likely to achieve what he needs for proper future growth. On the other hand, failure to fulfill these needs causes various levels of misery, sadness, frustration, and the incapability to meet the requirements of later stages of life.

Therefore, an urgent two parts question arises:

What are the requirements and needs at each stage of the child’s life? How do we fulfill them?

In answering this question, we begin with the gravely crucial first stage in building the personality of the human being, which is the stage that extends from birth until the age of twelve. It is the childhood stage that includes both kindergarten and elementary levels.

The requirements and needs of this phase are the total masterings of the skills of eating, walking, and speaking, in addition to achieving the physical-motor skills that allow the child to play and establish social relationships with others. Other requirements include the knowledge of the rules of security and safety laws; the formation of conscience, development of moral values and appropriate behavior; basic skills of reading, writing, arithmetic, and developing imagination and also, building sound health habits, forming concepts and perceptions related to daily life, and learning to share responsibility and to exercise self-control.

Satisfying these needs and requirements is a joint responsibility of the family, the kindergarten, and the school. This responsibility is fulfilled by focusing on several matters, the most important of which are:

_ The motor activities most appropriate to the child’s physical and muscular abilities while being fun and entertaining, thus motivating the child to invest his extra energy in what is beneficial.

_ Presenting topics related to the child’s needs, inclinations, and interests at this stage.

_ Paying attention to language skills by increasing conversation with the child and allowing him to imitate the sounds he hears, and to partake in oral and written language activities.

_ Presenting topics that reflect positive values and attitudes, such as love, honesty, cooperation, sincerity, respect for parents and the elderly, taking responsibility, and helping the needy.

_ Paying attention to security rules and safety laws, especially concerning food and clothing hygiene, traffic regulations, and others.

_ Developing independent thinking skills and the problem-solving process by presenting the relative exercises that suit the child’s intellectual level.

_ Organizing group activities and trips that develop the child’s spirit of teamwork.

_ Paying attention to the child’s handwriting skills and presenting structural writing topics that suit his stage of development. 

_ Enhancing self-confidence and renouncing fear and anxiety, and avoiding other negative emotional situations.

We can give an example of the curriculum that provides all the previous and more, and that is Al-Bayan’s curriculum.