VOC Parenting Viral On Social Media, Kemenduk Proudly Invites Parents To Be Wiser In Custody

JAKARTA - Recently, the term "VOC parenting" is being widely discussed on social media. This term is used satirically to describe authoritarian, rigid, and stressful parenting, like the colonial style of Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) during colonial times.

Debates also surfaced, especially during VOC parenting compared to a gentle parenting approach that prioritizes empathy and gentleness in raising children.

Responding to this phenomenon, Deputy Minister of Population and Family Development as well as Deputy Head of BKKBN, Ratu Ayu Isyana Bagoes Oka, invited parents not to be trapped in the extreme parenting dichotomy. According to him, the most important thing is to understand the specific needs of each child and adjust the parenting approach according to these conditions.

"Don't just focus on the term VOC or gentle parenting, the most important thing is to look at the needs of children. There are times when children need a empathetic approach, there are also times when they need strict discipline," said Isyana when met in Jakarta, as quoted by ANTARA.

He underlined that parenting should be dynamic and adaptive, adapting to the development of children and the surrounding environment. For this reason, parents need to continue to increase their knowledge and capacity in educating their children.

Being a parent is a continuous learning process. Now there are many learning sources, including through social media and the official module provided by the BKKBN. We ourselves have updated the youth care module to answer the challenges of the times," he added.

Isyana also emphasized that there is no formal education to be a parent, but a big responsibility comes with the presence of children. Therefore, it is important for parents to continue to learn and be open to various parenting methods that match the character of their respective children.

The character of each child can be very different, even in one family. Parents must really understand their children's unique character in order to guide them to grow as happy and quality individuals," he explained.

According to him, the first step parents have to take is to accept that every child has strength and weaknesses. No child is perfect, as no parent is perfect either.

"All parents definitely want their children to be successful and achieve. But each child has its own uniqueness. The important thing is love and full support for the strengths and challenges they have," he concluded.