Emotional Support Is A Long-Term Investment For Children's Welfare

JAKARTA - Emotional developments are an important aspect of the overall development of children. And, parents have a crucial role in shaping and supporting healthy emotional developments.

It is undeniable that being parents in today's era has tough challenges. Parents must be able to adapt to the onslaught of technological developments in educating their children.

On the one hand, technology does offer various benefits and conveniences. However, in the digital era, almost anything can be done by clicking on a cellphone screen, this is where parents have a very important role in controlling gadgets or gadgets.

"Many children are now smart, but have no empathy. Why? Because we, parents, often do short cuts or cut a process," said child psychologist Intan Erlita, M.Psi.

"In fact, so that children have a strong character, it takes a long process and is not instantaneous," he added.

In psychology, shaping character requires four aspects, namely IQ (intelligence quotes or intellectual intelligence), EQ (emotional quotient or emotional intelligence), SQ (spiritual quotient or spiritual intelligence), and AQ (adversity quotient intelligence to face life difficulties).

However, not a few parents forget the three aspects above by only focusing on one aspect, namely intellectual intelligence. In fact, said Intan Erlita, intellectual intelligence is not the only important factor in the success of children in the future.

"The science that is not based on emotional maturity and religious basics will actually backfire in the future," said Intan Erlita, M.Psi when filling a parenting seminar entitled "The Importance of Parents in Supporting Children's Emotional Growth" at Islamic Elementary Elementary School Permata Hati, Tangerang, Saturday (3/5/2025).

For this reason, Intan encourages parents not only to focus on IQ, but also three other aspects, namely EQ, SQ, and AQ. Because basically, all these aspects have attachment to each other.

Making children's characters is not easy. It takes a long and consistent time to make private children who are not only intellectually intelligent, but also have adab and empathy in the future.

This must be grown from an early age from home. That's why, parents, said Intan, should be the most comfortable place for children.

"In addition to praying for children every day, parents must be a safe place, be active listeners, teach emotional regulation, and become role models," explained Intan.

But indeed, there are a number of challenges that parents will face in helping their children's emotional growth. Starting from the limited time, inconsistent, different parenting, to the role of parents who are not present.

"So in parenting, there should be no parenting style or different parenting patterns between father and mother," said Intan.

Another challenge that parents also face in raising their children in order to have emotional intelligence is the inner wound of care experienced by the parents themselves.

In other words, parents still have wounds as a result of the care of their parents before, and at the same time it must be a safe place for children.

The parenting pattern that leaves the wound is often passed on to the children now, so this seems to be an unbroken cycle.

To stop this cycle, it takes great heart to forgive our parents first.

"By forgiveness, we are relieved that we no longer hold grudges and this affects our way of educating children," Intan explained.

By providing emotional support to children from an early age, children will get a strong provision or foundation for facing life in the future.

Intan Erlita's psychologist, M.Psi explained a number of positive impacts when children get emotional support from their parents, including good brain development.

The brain, said Intan, is the center of the development of emotional intelligence. If emotional support is given from an early age, the child's brain will develop well.

In addition, strong emotional support will also have an impact on the emergence of resilience or mental resilience in children.

"Parents support will help children develop the ability to overcome stress, disappointment, and challenges in the future," he said.

Intan added that emotional support given from an early age can also create a healthy relationship between parents and children.

"In addition, emotional support will also affect physical health, because emotions that are not well managed can have a negative impact on the child's physical health," said Intan again.

Finally, Intan insists that, "emotional support is a very valuable long-term investment for the welfare of children".