[nowheretorun]

Maslow had these concepts on child raising and i have thought them over and generally find them very positive instructions for guiding our children. I understand that not everything is for everyone, but i wondered if anyone else found these ideas helpful?

Teaching Methods
Maslow had comments on teaching children which included:

• Be authentic.
• Transcend their cultural conditioning and become world citizens.
• Find their vocation and right mate.
• Know that life is precious.
• Be good and joyous in all kinds of situations.
• Learn from their inner nature.
• See that basic needs are satisfied.
• Refresh their consciousness; appreciate beauty and other good things in life.
• Understand that controls are good, and complete abandon is bad.
• Transcend trifling problems
• Grapple with serious problems such as injustice, pain suffering and death
• Be good choosers
• Be given practice in making choices, later allowing choices in their religious beliefs.

source: http://www.deepermind.com/20maslow.htm

thanks for reading and replying and best to all

Since working so hard with my son. I find all these things to be what i tryed to teach. Or to instill inot him. Thinking it would help him to grow and heal as he was dealing with all his issues.

• Be authentic.
• Transcend their cultural conditioning and become world citizens.
• Find their vocation and right mate.
• Know that life is precious.
• Be good and joyous in all kinds of situations.
• Learn from their inner nature.
• See that basic needs are satisfied.
• Refresh their consciousness; appreciate beauty and other good things in life.
• Understand that controls are good, and complete abandon is bad.
• Transcend trifling problems
• Grapple with serious problems such as injustice, pain suffering and death
• Be good choosers
• Be given practice in making choices, later allowing choices in their religious beliefs.

Be authentic. He had to be true to him . I also had to be the same to him. Other wise it would not have worked. Not that I was persfect as I am far from it. I was myself with him . If i was not true to me then he I felt would not learn to be true to him and others.
"Know that life is precious." that he learned at a very young age. I think its one of the values I hope he holds dear threw life.

"Learn from their inner nature." He at times would try to fight against that. ((his inner nature)) which caused him pain.
I hope I kept him on the path of knowing he had to know his inner self.
sorry if I rambled.
muffy

[jacq10]

I think when it comes to children in general, they are VERY good at seeing if what you are saying is congruent with what you actually mean/and are doing. Being authentic in who you are is extremely important not only for raising your child in a "good" way, but for instilling in them the importance of being true to yourself. It teaches them fundamentals about not only HOW to live in the world, but WHO to be in the world.

My own experience in interacting with children has to be to completely live in the moment. Be there with them for their discoveries, listen to their hopes and fears, and encourage them to find their own path.

Maslow touches on a lot of these approaches, and I think this is most prominent in his hierarchy of needs with "self-actualization" at the top. The only thing I don't agree with is that not everyone is able to achieve this level, and only saints such as Mother Theresa and the Pope are able to reach this hierarchy.

I think my favourite approach to child-rearing however would be that of Skinner.

Just kidding, he raised his daughter in a clear box for a portion or her life

Jacq

[nowheretorun]

anyone else?

[Mouse_]

Seems very text booky...raising kids comes from the heart...for that I find people like Donald Winnicott more to my liking.

Oh and whose to day The pope and mother Therea reached self actualisation???? There are no saints' only humanbeings...

[madisgram]

jme, but i think maslow's suggestions help children feel more secure in their environment, help them to develop self confidence, and learn to make wise choices.
i did not receive an abundance of these things groiwng up and therefore had to learn a new way of perceiving myself and life as an adult in therapy. for the most part i've succeeded but it's certainly a more positive way to start them on their way from the beginning. it would have allowed me more joys of self exploration and self confidence had i been reared in a more constructive environment from the start.
my son was raised along these guidelines and has been like a blooming flower all his life. i believe his entire life has been enriched from my utilizing the things mentioned.
thanks for bringing up the topic!

[jacq10]

Originally Posted by Mouse_

Oh and whose to day The pope and mother Therea reached self actualisation???? There are no saints' only humanbeings...

Precisely what I don't agree with Mouse !

Well that, and I believe everyone has the potential to become self-actualized, but such a state is not comparable as it is purely individualistic.

[nowheretorun]

thank you to everyone who has responded, i put this post up after a discussion with River regarding integrity... it made me wonder, how do we instill integrity in our children now since the good Dr. has been dead for awhile.. i am not a Dr., only a person with a vested interest in society, financially and emotionally...

i agree that not everyone achieves the higher levels of actualization, if we did, i imagine there would be no need for the field of psychiatry or psychoanalysis.. but is that reason not to try for complete actualization? does coming close count for anything in this area and how different might our human condition be with a group of individuals who attempted and only made it part way?

i admire the Dr.s good intent tho, these sound like supportive, encouraging, positive guidelines, teaching responsibility, freedom, and participation in our world in a way that separates achievers into different levels... often as i read posts in some of the forums i can see where some deficiency in one of the areas exists, outstandingly at the lower tier, regarding sleep, nutrition, activity... basic needs... what habits have replaced the practices of good health?

i have read somewhere that technology both advances and reverses our human condition, such as the way we communicate... so fast with the internet, but what substance might be lost with the ability to quickly convey directives lacking emotion, as in texting?

i am wondering if we have become so distant from our originations in being that we have become overwhelmed by convenience, and in doing so, left behind principles like integrity?

thanks to everyone who takes time to read and respond, the journey continues...

[chaotic13]

* Learn from their inner nature.

I wish I would have been taught that this inner nature was not inherently bad or evil.

[chaotic13]

* Learn from their inner nature.

I wish I would have been taught that my authentic self and this inner nature were not inherently bad or evil.

[nowheretorun]

Originally Posted by chaotic13

* Learn from their inner nature.

I wish I would have been taught that my authentic self and this inner nature were not inherently bad or evil.

wish someone had told you..

a persons inner nature is not inheritantly 'good or bad' .. the inner side of us seems to me to have an inner need to survive, love and be loved (eating isnt a bad idea either lol) ... its the environment that surrounds which teaches us the confusing ideas about good and bad... inner nature is to trust and to heal.. inner nature is to acquire self health.. health is a good thing for us... we separate and become divided when we first have a notion of 'good or bad' .. remember, its ALL about Health! thanks for replying and good wishes

[MissCharlotte]

Hi nowhere,

I am a trained teacher and I remember studying Maslow when I was in school. We looked at Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in relation to how students learn; For example, we discussed things such as, Can they concentrate/learn/comprehend if their basic needs aren't met? (ETC)

Here is a link to the concept:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs

As far as his other ideas, I think they are all wholesome and good and attempt to describe what is UNDERNEATH our life experiences. I think his work is foundational along with others such as Piaget, Vygotsky, and Erickson in providing the underpinnings for understanding how children can learn and grow into healthy adults.

I think each of our therapists should have that list hanging in their office!

As for who parents can look to now, look at Penelope Leach, a British child development expert. She is all about healthy beginnings, and full of practical advice.