24 Part One Children in Today’s World
social needs. Learning to form
relationships is a key social
need. Children need to form
strong relationships with their
parents. These relationships
can help children feel secure
and teach them how to respond
and relate to other people.
Children also need a sense of
belonging. To build this sense,
parents must socialize their
children, or train them to live
as part of the group. Parents
must teach children about their
culture, or way of life within
the group. Each culture may
have its own language, beliefs,
attitudes, values, rituals, and
skills. Parents help children
learn what the culture expects
of its members. (You will learn
more about the role of culture in
families by reading Chapter 2.)
trust needs. Children need to
feel they can cope with demands
of family, friends, and society.
Being able to trust their parents
helps children gain confi dence.
Trust begins early in life when
parents meet their needs. Trust
grows as parents allow children
the freedom to develop.
love/guidance needs. Children
need love and support from
their parents. In loving
children, parents must listen to
their children, set limits, and
share their reasons for limits,
1-3. As a part of guidance,
Culture
Read all or some of the chapters from Laura
Ingalls Wilder’s books Little House in the Big
Woods and Farmer Boy. Share with your class
examples of how the parents socialized their
children. What skills, customs, and values did
the parents hand down to the children in the
stories? How are these teachings different from
what your parents have passed down
to you about your culture?
1-3
Setting limits is part of loving and disciplining children.