Family Needs, Goals and Standards – JSS1 Home Economics Lesson Note (Second Term)

Family needs are things a family must have for health and survival, such as food, housing, clothing and health care.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain the meaning of family needs, wants, goals and standards;
2. state the difference between needs and wants;
3. list and explain the types of family needs;
4. describe how values, goals and standards are related, using the kitchen as an example;
5. explain what resource management means and name the resources a family uses.

What are family needs, wants, goals and standards?

These are four key terms in family living: needs, wants, goals and standards.

What are family needs?

Family needs are essential things that family members cannot do without, because they are very important for health.

• Physical needs: food, water, shelter, clothing and health care.
• Emotional needs: love, care, comfort and a feeling of belonging.
• Mental needs: education, learning and guidance.
• Social needs: friendship, respect and taking part in community life.

What are wants?

Wants are things a family desires but can live without, because they are not essential for health and well-being.

• Clothing: basic clothing is a need for survival, but extra clothing is a want.
• Transport: a family may need transport and buy a small car. When they earn more, they may want a bigger one.

What is a goal?

A goal is something a family wants to achieve at a given time.

• Link to vision: family goals show how a family lives out its vision and mission.
• Trust and communication: working on goals together builds both.
• Teaching children: goals show children how to set and achieve personal goals.
• Example: a family aims to save money for a child’s school fees.

What is a standard?

A standard is a measure used to decide how well something is done or how far a goal has been reached.

• Measure: it tells the family the amount or quality they accept.
• Guide: it shows a way of doing things.
• Example: the family agrees that dishes are washed after every meal.

What is the difference between needs and wants?

A need is essential for survival and health, while a want is a desire the family can live without.

What are the types of family needs?

There are two types of family needs: primary needs and secondary needs.

Basic or primary needs

• Meaning: needs the family cannot do without, which every family must have to survive.
• Food: gives energy, growth and protection from disease.
• Housing: gives shelter and safety.
• Clothing: protects the body and gives warmth and decency.
• Health care: keeps family members well and treats illness.

Secondary needs

• Meaning: things the family wants but can exist without, so they are less important than primary needs.
• Recreation: games, outings and leisure activities.
• Personal allowance: pocket money for family members.
• Extra clothing: clothes beyond what is needed for daily wear.

What is the relationship among values, goals and standards?

Values give meaning to life, goals point to the direction a family wants to follow, and standards measure how well the goals are met.

• Values: beliefs about what is important, such as cleanliness and health.
• Goals: the aims a family sets because of its values.
• Standards: the level of quality the family accepts when working towards a goal.
• Link: values and goals are interrelated, and both lead the family to its desired quality of life.

How can the kitchen show values, goals and standards?

The kitchen is a good area of the house for showing how a value leads to a goal and a standard.

What is resource management?

Resource management is how individuals and families use what they have to get what they want.

What are the resources a family uses?

• Human resources: time, energy, skills and knowledge of family members.
• Material resources: money, food, the house, furniture and equipment.

What are the steps in resource management?

1. Planning: think about the goal and decide how to reach it.
2. Organising: arrange the people, time and materials needed.
3. Carrying out the plan: do the work as planned.
4. Evaluating: check the result against the standard and learn from it.

Evaluation

1. Explain the meaning of needs, wants, goals and standards.
2. State three differences between needs and wants.
3. List and explain the types of family needs.
4. Using the kitchen, give one value, one goal and one standard.
5. What is resource management? Name the steps involved.

Assignment

State and explain the types of family needs, giving two examples of each.