41 Chapter 1 Learning About Children
All adults who study about and
care for children need to understand
this hierarchy of human needs.
Maslow’s work implies the further
up the hierarchy a person can go,
the more growth and fulfi llment
he or she will seek. Maslow sees
humans as driven by the need to
become more fulfi lled.
Adults need to learn and
practice ways to help children meet
their needs. The fi rst step is to help
children meet basic needs. For
instance, adults can offer children
nutritious foods. Once basic needs are
met, adults can help children meet
higher-level needs. For example,
well-fed children can turn their
attention from eating to psychological
needs. These might include building
relationships with friends. Higher-
level skills help children reach their
full potential as adults, which is
called self-actualization.
Observing
Children
Observation is the oldest, most
common, and best way to learn
about human behavior, including
the behavior of children. One
reason observation is so commonly
used is because humans enter the
world with their own observation
equipment—their senses. As you
watch and listen to children, you
can learn about their behavior. By
watching carefully, you can respond
quickly if dangers arise.
When you observe adults who
work with children, you can learn
to imitate their successful behaviors.
For instance, if you observe a
teacher sitting on the fl oor working
with children, you might later try
this, too. This can help you interact
with children in a more positive
way. Because many skills are
learned through imitation, this type
of observation is important.
Because the senses are the main
tools you use, you might think
observation skills come naturally.
To some extent, they do. You see
and hear what goes on around
you every day. It takes training,
however, to interpret what you
see and hear into information
that you can use. For this reason,
many observation skills must be
learned. These skills come with
knowledge and practice. Pretend
you are looking at an X-ray with
your doctor. Where you might see
only shadows and lines, your doctor
sees a bone fracture. Why would
your doctor see more? With his or
her experience, your doctor can see
meaning in these images you may
not notice.
You will learn more about
children when you use your mind
to “see” more. Observing children
will help you understand what you
read in this book and what you hear
about children. At the same time,
what you learn from your reading
will help you see more when you
observe, too, 1-12.
Why Observe
Children?
How do researchers know so
much about children? They have
been observing and writing about
children for many years. As you
observe, you will behave like a
researcher, too.
Usually, a researcher has a
question and then observes children
to learn the answer. What you