Want to help kids be healthier and happier? This is where to start
Most fundamentally, what people need is their physical needs to be met. Without physical needs being cared for, the rest of Maslow’s Needs pyramid is really hard to make progress in. If we start at the bottom and work our way up, we’ll all be better off.
— Dr. Matt Swenson, MD, child psychiatrist and EveryDay Strong cofounder
One memory I have as a teenager was when my mom, sister, and I were standing in a park in New York City. It was about 11 in the morning, and hot. We had just ridden nearly an hour on the subway, and now we were supposed to be discussing what to do first on our “girls trip” itinerary.
My younger sister didn’t like any of the options. After a while, I got snippy; she had no suggestions herself, and I wanted to start moving somewhere. She stormed off around the corner while I sat on a ledge.
My mother sighed, and she suggested we go to lunch and make the decision later.
“The women in our family get very hangry,” she told me. “And when we get hangry, we can’t make decisions. Let’s make sure we’re eating frequently on this trip, so we can all actually get along.”
So we grabbed some pizza, and the rest of the day is lost to memory.
Turn “hangry” into “happy”
You’ve probably had your own version of this story — maybe even from earlier today! But for me, that conversation in New York was the first time it really “clicked” for me that hunger negatively can, and does, affect cooperation and collaboration.
As we all know, feeling hungry, tired, stifled, or overwhelmed are universal experiences based on our bodies’ needs. We also know that these feelings can inhibit us from working with and feeling connected to others.
When mental illness is involved, these emotions become exacerbated and sometimes overwhelming.
Sometimes we don’t know how to help the prickly and irritable teenager, the anxious preteen, or the depressed student in front of us. We want to help, but are unsure whether we’re going to help or harm.
That’s why in our EveryDay Strong Resilience Handbook, we’ve added a brand-new section addressing physical needs.
Think of old ideas in new ways
We know that physical needs aren’t a new concept.
But we’re not telling you to make sure your kids get exercise, 8 hours of sleep, and 3 healthy meals a day. (While all of those things are important, we’re assuming you already know them!)
Many of our physical needs, especially for kids struggling with mental illness, are nuanced or overlooked. For example, in the new section of the handbook, we talk about sensory stimulation, movement and energy, good breathing practices, and dealing with pain.
Whether we’re a parent, teacher, mentor, or neighbor, we can build an essential foundation to emotional wellbeing when we ensure physical safety and health — both for ourselves and for our kids.
Get ideas and suggestions on how to do just that by downloading the newly released version of the handbook today. ※
Consider the physical needs that arise in your home, classroom, or workplace. Which needs do you think are the most challenging, and how have you tried to care for them? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or by tagging us on social media.
