Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs describes basic needs including body and safety needs. The hierarchy emphasizes that:

• A. A child's physical and emotional safety needs must be met before children can grow, develop, and learn
• B. Academic achievement is most important
• C. Love and belonging are the first need
• D. Self-actualization occurs before safety

Answer: (A)

The core idea is that basic physiological and safety needs form the foundation for all growth, development, and learning. When a child’s physical needs—food, water, shelter, warmth—and safety needs are not met, attention and energy are redirected toward survival and protection, leaving little room for exploration, learning, or emotional growth. Once those base needs are secured, a child can progress to wanting belonging and love, then esteem, and finally self-actualization.

So the best statement is that a child’s physical and emotional safety needs must be met before growth, development, and learning can occur.

The other notions don’t align with this sequence: academic achievement isn’t the starting point Maslow identifies; love and belonging aren’t the first needs either; and self-actualization sits at the top, not before safety.