Ages 4+ · Money · Spending wisely
Needs and wants
🍎food🧥a coat🪥a toothbrush🚗a toy car
Needs come first.The big ideaNeeds are things we must have. Wants are things we like. Needs come first.
How it works
Needs are things we must have, like food, a coat and a toothbrush.
Wants are things we like, like toys and sweets. Wants are okay, and needs come first.
Example 1: Why food is a need
- Food helps Pip grow big and strong.
- Without food, we get hungry.
- So food is a need.
Example 2: Why a coat is a need
- A cold wind blows, brrr!
- A warm coat keeps the cold out.
- So a coat is a need.
🌬️cold wind🧥warm coat😌no shivers
A coat keeps us warm.Example 3: A toy car is a want
- A toy car is fun, vroom, vroom!
- But we do not need it to stay warm or to grow.
- So it is a want, and wants are okay.
Example 4: Needs first
- Pip has coins and sees toys and food.
- The coins go to the needs first: food, a coat and a toothbrush.
- If a coin is left over, a want can have it. The toy car gets a smile and a maybe next time.
Words to know
- need
- Something we must have.
- want
- Something we like but do not need.
- coat
- Clothes that keep us warm.
Watch out
- Wanting something is okay. Needs just come first.
- Pip could not buy everything at once. Choosing is part of shopping.
Try it
- Is a coat a need or a want?
- Is a toy car a need or a want?
- Is it okay to want a toy?
- Which comes first, needs or wants?
Answers: 1. a need · 2. a want · 3. yes · 4. needs
Try at homeWith a grown-up, point out one need and one want when you shop. Needs come first, and wants are okay too.
For grown-upsWhen you shop together, point out one need and one want, and say 'needs first, then wants if there is a coin left'.