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Wants and Needs Game website

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Needs and Wants - Needs and Wants - Needs and Wants - Wants and Needs - Needs and Wants Whack-a-mole - Needs and Wants - Needs and Wants for First Grade

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activity website to increase student understanding

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caring/sharing donate economics financial resources global community global issues need reflection response to text/others spending

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Children compare wants and needs and create a collage of wants and needs. Students clarify their understanding and interpretation of wants and needs as they compare their wants and needs with others in the room and in the world. They respond to the story Sam and the Lucky Money.

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click the website above

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It's tough to talk about money, even when the discussion is with someone mature and rationale. When it comes to teaching your kids about finances-in particular, what's a "want" and what's a "need"-it can be even tougher. It's not easy to explain to your child that the toy truck they think they need, isn't as important as the electricity you actually need to keep your home running.

Saying no is an important part of teaching children that they can't have everything that they want (even if it's affordable). Kids need to know you will provide everything they need. Teaching them the difference between needs and wants will set them up with proper financial priorities that will benefit them later in life.

Before you strike up conversations with kids about what is a need and what is a want, it's important to make sure you have a good handle on it in your own mind.

Distinguishing between needs and wants can be a little tricky in today's world.

In fact, studies show technology has changed our definition of needs versus wants.

For example, do you need a smartphone? Well, maybe your phone is necessary because it allows you to call for help in the event of an emergency. And perhaps you operate a business that requires you to have a phone so you can earn money that takes care of your basic necessities. But, on the other hand, plenty of people survive without a smartphone.

Needs vs. Wants

For clarity's sake, you might make all "needs" fall into the categories of food, shelter, and clothing, while a "want" is something other than that. There's a gray area, of course-for example, Oreos are food, but they're certainly not necessary.

An RV provides shelter, but something less expensive and more practical certainly does the trick as a "need." Designer clothing provides warmth and protection, but no one needs a $200 pair of jeans.

This dichotomy is a very tricky point for kids and teens to understand. Age-appropriate explanations and exercises can help.

Read Books Together

When you have little ones, a picture book on the subject can start the discussion. Here are a few books that can help kids learn to distinguish between wants and needs:

"Charlie and Lola: I Really, Really Need Actual Ice Skates," by Lauren Child. When Lola goes ice-skating with her friend Morten, she absolutely must have her own skates so she can be the very best skater in the whole school. Charlie reminds her that her yo-yo and guitar-which she really, really wanted-ended up unused in the closet, but she is certain this time is different.

"Those Shoes," by Maribeth Boelts. All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. Though Jeremy's grandma says they don't have room for "want," just "need." When his old shoes fall apart at school, he is more determined than ever to have those shoes. When he gets a thrift-shop pair that are much too small he realizes that sore feet aren't much fun. Jeremy soon sees that the things he has-warm boots, a loving grandma, and the chance to help a friend-are worth more than the things he wants.

"Lily Learns about Wants and Needs," By Lisa Bullard. Lily wants a new bike. And a new raincoat. And ice cream. But how many of these things does she need? As Lily and her dad drive around town, Lily soon discovers that wants and needs are different things. She picks out which things people have to have. She might even remind her dad that he doesn't need root beer!

Have Grocery Cart Discussions

When your child reaches kindergarten, she's likely ready to start learning a few more details about "wants" versus "needs" (if you didn't broach it when they continually asked for the toys they saw on commercials as a toddler!) If your child regularly goes to the grocery store with you, this is a convenient exercise to do.

If they can read, let them hold the grocery list and identify those items to them as needs. As you walk through the aisles and pick up items, ask your child if it's a need or a want.

If it's on the list, it's a need; if it's not, it's a want. Laundry detergent is on the list, so that's a need. Ice cream isn't on the list, so that's a want.

Once they're a little older, you can talk about price points, too.

For example, that vanilla ice cream is on sale, but the rocky road ice cream looks so delicious, though it's not on sale. What would they have to remove from the list in order to get rocky road instead of vanilla? This teaches your child how you make sacrifices (or save up money) to purchase the things you want, or how to work that special item into a budget.

If you can trust your child with scissors, you can do this discussion-provoking exercise to visualize wants versus needs. Grab a stack of magazines or advertisement flyers from the newspaper, as well as a sheet of paper.

Draw a line down the center of the paper and label one side as "want" and one side as "need." Ask your child to cut out items that fit into each category, and then talk about what they've chosen. You can do the activity, too, to show your kids that adults have wants, too, that they can't always purchase.

Budget Exercise

Once your child is old enough to understand the basics of adding and subtracting, you can work up a mock household budget with them. Give them a set amount of fake money-say, $800-and a list of expenses, both needs and wants.

The list could include needs such as rent ($500-it's just an exercise!), groceries ($50), gas ($20), and a car payment ($200), as well as wants such as video games ($25), cable TV ($50), a smartphone ($75), and fashionable clothes ($75). This will teach them that after the needs are met, not all the wants can be purchased without running out of money.

Paying for Their Wants

Older children and teens can learn first-hand the basics about needs versus wants when you allow them to pay for their wants.

Pay a weekly allowance for completed chores. Then, let your teenager buy everything they want outside of their needs. A cute new outfit, tickets to the movies, and pizza with friends should all come out of their own budget.

Of course, your child will need some guidance from you about how to save money. So, before you start this project, sit down together and identify the things they're going to want throughout the year-like a prom dress, spending money for a family vacation, and new basketball sneakers. Discuss how much they'll need to save each week to ensure they have plenty of cash to cover those things.

Then, let them decide how to spend their money on other wants. If they make the mistake of spending all of their money on the first day they earn it, don't give them any more. Missing out on an outing with friends or not being able to make an impulse purchase will remind them to do better next time.

Let them face the natural consequences and explain that it's a want and she can live without it. And she'll learn valuable money skills that will serve her well throughout the rest of her life.

Be Willing to Say No

It's hard to deny your child everything that they want, but giving into everything asked for won't do them any favors. In fact, overindulging your child could lead to materialism -which studies link to reduced life satisfaction and higher rates of depression.

Whether they ask for a new toy or are begging for a new necklace, saying no sometimes will remind them that they don't need those things.

When you teach your child the difference between wants and needs, they'll be more content with what they has. And you'll be more likely to raise a child who becomes a content, financially responsible adult.

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How to Tell Your Kids No and Teach Them Financial Priorities

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It can be hard for kids to understand the difference between needs and wants. Read how to explain it to them so they'll understand.

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website/activity

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Children may be saying things like, "This isn't the kind I like!" "But I want..." and "Can we get some tomorrow?" Even in more normal times, young children are still learning the difference between things we want and things we really need.

Explain: "All of us need nutritious food, water, shelter, and clothing. These are things that help our bodies grow, and keep us healthy and safe." Then explain the things that people want: "Sometimes we want extra things, like a new toy, but those extras are not as important to buy as the things we need. It's okay if we don't have everything we want, sometimes we just can't have those things."

Prioritize Needs
The next time children are struggling with not having exactly what they want, you can assure them: "We may not have everything we want right now, but I'm working to get us everything we need the most. We have to decide what things are most important."

Gratitude
It also helps to feel gratitude for the things we do have. You might post a sheet of paper on the refrigerator or near your child's bed. Write "We're Grateful For..." at the top, and write something on the list every night (such as video chatting with grandma, hot baths, family game night, playing outside for a little while, petting the dog). All family members can keep adding to it even if children have a hard time thinking of anything that day. Younger children might draw a picture of what they're grateful for.
When food is the issue, consider these ideas:

Make a grocery list together and talk about why you are choosing one item rather than another.

Explain that we need to make the best of what we have and we all have to be more flexible (being okay with changes or surprises). Point out how Abby wanted a banana-blueberry smoothie instead of a strawberry one, but because they only had strawberries, she felt grateful for the substitution.

Try to make those substitutions and changes more special. For instance, children may want milk in the morning. You may be out of milk, but you may have oranges-so you can offer a glass of water with a few orange slices in it and begin calling it "sunshine water."

If you won't have new food coming into your home soon or if you're awaiting a trip to the pantry, grocery store, or home delivery that's far off, or you are going to the store infrequently, make a calendar of that timeframe and post it on the refrigerator. Show children how they can count and cross off the days until children might be able to have some of the special things they want. They can draw a picture of those items on the calendar (of course, those items still may not be available).

Let children make simple choices throughout the day so they feel a sense of control. For instance, prepare meals together and ask them to choose which color mixing bowl to use.

You can also talk about needs and wants by writing each word on a slip of paper and, together, sort them into piles of "needs" and "wants" (keep in mind that needs and wants will change over time for everyone in the family). Point out that some of the needs (such as healthy food and shelter) are more important than others. Which do children think are most important? You can also create a game by decorating two boxes, cutting pictures from magazines, and deciding which box they belong in. You might include:
NEEDS

healthy "anytime" food (such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and protein)

toiletries (toilet paper, toothpaste)

water

a safe place to live

to be able to move around

sleep

eyeglasses (if we need them to see)

blankets

paper and something to write with

phone

garbage service

mail

electricity

clean clothes

friends

love

special time with family

ways to cook food (stove/oven/microwave)

WANTS

eating in restaurants

going to stores

going to parties outside of our home

visiting friends and family in person

going to other people's homes

"sometime" foods (like cookies, candy, potato chips, soda, and other foods high in sugar, fat, and salt)

toys

jewelry

playing on a playground

new video game or screen time

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Needs vs. Wants | Sesame Street in Communities

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Children may be saying things like, "This isn't the kind I like!" "But I want..." and "Can we get some tomorrow?" Even in more normal times, young children are still learning the difference between things we want and things we really need. Explain: "All of us need nutritious food, water, shelter, and clothing.

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Distinguish Between wants and needs

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Pick Whether its a Need or Want

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Super JoJo - Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs

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Kids Learn Needs and Wants | Good Habits for Kids | Super JoJo Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs

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click above and participate

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Wants and Needs for Kids - Play the GAME and Find Out! | Shopping Cart

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Click the video above

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something that must be done!
Examples include food, water, and shelter.

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A want is something that's nice to have, but you can actually live without
Ex: Ice cream and Pizza

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Wants and Needs Mini Lesson