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Supporting Emotional Regulation in Children Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Updated: 3 hours ago


After reading this article, you will:

  1. A practical breakdown of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for kids

  2. The connection between unmet needs and emotional dysregulation in children

  3. Neuroaffirming strategies to meet your child’s needs at each level

  4. How The Galaxy Guide to Running My Rocket integrates these concepts

  5. How Ready Rocket Resources supports children’s emotional development


Meet Mr Maslow!

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, proposed by psychologist Abraham Maslow in 1943, is a widely recognised theory used in education, parenting, and psychology. It outlines five categories of human needs, from survival basics to self-fulfilment. These needs are often visualised as a pyramid, with each level building upon the last.


At Ready Rocket Resources, we use this model to support children's emotional development by recognising that regulation starts with meeting needs—not managing behaviours. When a child’s basic needs are unmet, emotional regulation becomes neurologically inaccessible. This insight is especially relevant for neurodivergent children, who may express discomfort or distress differently.


A Neuroaffirming Look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in Children

1. 🥣 Physiological Needs

These are the basic survival needs: food, water, sleep, toileting, and sensory comfort. When these are unmet, a child’s ability to regulate emotions is compromised because the brain prioritises survival first.


2. 🛡️ Safety Needs

Feeling safe physically and emotionally is essential for children to explore the world, form relationships, and develop self-regulation skills. Without safety, children’s nervous systems remain on high alert, limiting learning and connection.


3. 💞 Love and Belonging

Children need to feel loved, accepted, and part of a community. This connection supports emotional health and helps children trust themselves and others, especially for neurodivergent kids who might often feel misunderstood.


4. 🏆 Esteem Needs

Esteem relates to a child feeling competent, confident, and respected. Recognising effort and individual strengths builds resilience and a sense of worth, empowering children to face challenges with courage.



5. 🌈 Self-Actualisation

At the top of the hierarchy is self-actualisation; expressing identity, creativity, and personal growth. This level nurtures emotional intelligence and helps children understand and direct their own inner worlds.


How The Galaxy Guide to Running My Rocket helps: The book introduces Planet Zonk, a special place in the galaxy where rockets land when their basic needs (like rest or fuel) aren’t yet met. Through this fun and relatable metaphor, children learn to recognise when their body feels off or uncomfortable and understand that it’s okay to take time to meet those needs. By exploring Planet Zonk, kids gain tools to identify and communicate their internal feelings, helping turn abstract sensations into clear, manageable experiences.



📚 Ready Rocket Resources offers tools, guides, and workshops grounded in developmental neuroscience and tailored for all neurotypes.


Why This Framework Is Critical for Emotional Regulation


When children engage in what we call “challenging behaviour,” it’s often not about defiance; it’s about survival. If needs are unmet, behaviours like hitting, yelling, or running away can be protective responses. Understanding this shifts us from managing behaviour to meeting needs.


We encourage you to ask:

“What is this behaviour telling me about what my child needs?”


This approach is particularly helpful for children with ADHD, autism, anxiety, trauma backgrounds, or sensory processing differences.


Join Our Online Emotions Workshop (Perfect for Parents & Therapists!)


Want to dive deeper? Our Online Emotions Workshop walks you through:


✅ The science of emotional regulation

✅ A neuroaffirming model for supporting dysregulation

✅ Practical strategies tailored for home, therapy, or classroom settings

✅ A guided plan to help your child feel safe, seen, and supported Click the images below to find out more





References:



Ready Rocket Resources, The Galaxy Guide to Running My Rocket, emotional regulation for children, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for kids, parenting neurodivergent children, support for ADHD, neurodiverse affirming tools, child emotional development, sensory needs in kids, online emotional regulation workshop, children’s mental health support

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