2.2 Needs, Potentials, and Rights of Children

The ultimate aim of development is to promote and enhance the health, well-being and capacities of children. This requires that certain needs of children are supported and fulfilled, both in terms of their well being at the present time and in terms of their future potentials. Potentials are the possibilities for a person’s further growth and development in both a general sense and in areas of special talents and gifts. These can be common to all children, for example fulfilling the potential to grow taller, stronger; to understand oral and written communication, or can be individualistic and unique to the child, for example, realization of artistic talent, creative intellect, and/or interpersonal acuity . Realizing potentials is in itself a human need.

Genuine respect for human dignity brings the additional expectation to support the development of the unique potentials of each person and, thereby, to fulfill the need of all persons to be true to their selves and the special added value they bring to life (e.g., realization of artistic talent, creative intellect, and/or interpersonal acuity). The Convention on the Rights of the Child addresses all these needs and potentials, as exemplified in its articles 5 and 29. For background and further clarification see the work of Maslow, A. (1970). Motivation and personality. New York: Harper and Row; Ryan, R. M. & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55, 1, 68-78; and Sheldon, K.M., Elliot, A.J., Kim, Y., & Kasser, T. (2001). What's satisfying about satisfying events? Comparing ten candidate psychological needs. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80, 325-339.

For our consideration, needs can be grouped into four broad categories:

  • Physical needs: Shelter, health care, water and sanitation, protection from environmental pollution, adequate food, adequate clothing, and protection from violence, exploitation and abuse, exercise for strength-endurance-coordination, opportunities for development of athletic potentials
  • Social, economic and cultural needs: Knowledge of and respect for one’s own language, religion and culture, stable social and economic environment, access to appropriate guidance and support, access to quality education, play and friendships, freedom from discrimination and prejudice, meaningful empowering work, and opportunities for service
  • Psychological, including Intellectual, emotional, and volitional needs: A stable and loving family environment, a sense of belonging and identity, age appropriate information, stimulation, and opportunities to be listened to and taken seriously, models for problem solving and critical thinking, a sense of worth, being valued by others, being able to contribute to or positively affect your world, opportunities to make choices and develop cognitive talents and creative potentials. [Volitional needs and potentials refer to abilities and skills to make a conscious choice or decision]
  • Spiritual needs: Exploration, understanding and appreciation of the nature of life, human kind and the universe -- of what lies beyond time and material world, and the possibilities to connect with the infinite and ultimate.

2.3 The relationship between rights and needs