There are over 300 identifiable human needs. So how do you meet the needs of the children in your home? These thirty needs are carefully described with accompanying Scriptures. Tape this on your refrigerator (or on your desk at work) and be sure that your child has that need met on that particular day of the month. He or she will love you for it! (Except on the 12th-Disicpline!)
THE ART OF PARENTING-UNDERSTANDING PERSONAL NEEDS
1. Acceptance (Romans 15:7): Openly receive your child just as he/she is. Love them unconditionally.
2. Admonition (Romans 15:14): Give constructive guidance in what to avoid. Warn and instruct about harmful situations or influences.
3. Affection (Romans 16:16): Communicate care and closeness through physical touch and affirming words.
4. Appreciation/Praise (1 Corinthians 11:12): Express words and feelings of personal gratefulness for your child and for what they do.
5. Approval (Romans 14:18): Commend and speak well of your child.
6. Attention (1 Corinthians 12:25): Enter into your child’s world.
7. Comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:18): Come alongside your child with words, feeling and touch. Console with tenderness.
8. Compassion (Hebrews 10:34): Suffer through your child’s hurts and burdens with them. Empathize.
9. Confession (James 5:16): Admit and/or confess when you are wrong or have hurt your child. Ask for their forgiveness.
10. Deference (Ephesians 5:21): Yield or postpone your own needs for the benefit of your child.
11. Devotion (Romans 12:10): Dedicate yourself to your child. Give them committed care.
12. Discipline (Proverbs 23:13): Correct when boundaries are crossed and limits exceeded.
13. Edification, Build up (Romans 14:19): Positively promote your child’s values and morals, growth and development.
14. Encouragement (Hebrews 10:24): Motivate your child. Positively persuade him/her toward attainable goals.
15. Forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32): Cancel out and release wrongs committed and give unconditional love.
16. Harmony (1 Peter 3:8): Create an atmosphere of secure love, unity and peace.
17. Hospitality (1 Peter 4:9): Receive others with an open, welcoming heart.
18. Intimacy (1 John 1:7): Be vulnerable. Know your child deeply and let him/her know you. Share your lives together.
19. Kindness (Ephesians 4:32): Serve tenderly and sensitively.
20. Love (John 13:34): Lay down your life unselfishly for your child just as Jesus did for you.
21. Prayer (James 5:16): Daily pray for your child’s spiritual, mental, physical and emotional well being.
22. Respect (Romans 12:10): Value and regard highly; convey great worth to your child.
23. Security (Mark 9:50): Assure your child of your protection and care. Keep him/her from danger.
24. Serve (Galatians 5:13): Gladly and unselfishly meet your child’s needs.
25. Support (Galatians 6:2): Come alongside your child and help them.
26. Sympathy (1 Peter 3:8): Identify with your child emotionally when they are hurting.
27. Teaching (Colossians 3:16): Give constructive, positive instruction on how to live.
28. Tolerance (Ephesians 4:2): Patiently endure the humanness of your child.
29. Training (Luke 6:40): Prepare your child to face life’s issues.
30. Understanding: (Romans 12:16) Seek to know your child, to hear what they’re saying and discern why they are responding in a certain way.