Hang up a picture of a little boy or little girl on your group time wall. Any picture you get from a magazine will do. During group time with your kids, write a narrative around this imaginary child. Tell the kids that this is (invent a name), and to pretend that she was plucked down on this planet from outer space. Then ask them: what are the different things this girl/ boy needs? Write their answers on a dry erase board or large sheet of butcher paper.

Once you’ve exhausted the ideas about his or her needs, go through and talk about whether these needs are physical or emotional. Have kids try to pick out 5 from the list that they think about as most important.

Once you’re done with that, discuss the different ways we get these needs met by others, as well as the different ways children themselves can supply others with these needs.