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The needs of children have been well researched in the
psychological and sociological disciplines. Those who
live and work with children can draw on a wide spread
of knowledge for assessing and meeting children's needs
across a range of areas:
- physical and developmental needs;
- cognitive and learning needs;
- social and environmental needs;
- emotional and affectional needs;
- behavioural presentation.
Government guidelines assist social workers considering
the needs of children looked after by local authorities
across a range of these fields (health, education, identity,
family and social relationships, social presentation,
emotional and behavioural development, self-care skills).
They also require assessments to think about each child
in the context of their particular family and community.
This helps practitioners to assess what appears to be
universal to children, to understand individual differences,
the relationship of behaviour to context, the influence
of neighbourhood, cultural background, social and economic
situations. A holistic approach to children's needs
balances genetic and environmental factors and considers
the transaction between biological and environmental
needs.
The spiritual needs of children
It can be argued that all children also have an inherent
spirituality which should be considered to achieve a
truly holistic picture of developmental needs. As John
Bradford puts it:
'For a human being, especially a child or young person,
to have a full quality of life, spirituality in all
its aspects must be nurtured and affirmed. For children
or young people who have been marginalised or who have
suffered deprivation in every way, the need for such
nurture and affirmation in human spirituality is all
the more pronounced'.
Children's spiritual needs can be considered in terms
of what may be universal (or innate) and in terms of
what might be expressed through religious persuasion
or affiliation to a faith community. Children appear
to have an inbuilt curiosity about the world, which
expresses itself in wonder and awe; in questions about
where they came from; and the meaning of death. Children
appear capable of moments of intense joy, but can also
experience extreme imagined terror and fear. Children's
literature and stories in diverse cultures enable children
to confront, reject and come to terms with fear and
monsters, both from within and without. The runaway
success of the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling may
also indicate the way children need to engage with magic,
mystery, terror and fantasy. There is a message in the
books for parents too about nurturing children’s
spiritual and imaginative life, fostering the creativity
which helps them to manage the adversities of life and
build emotional resilience.
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