Bekali Anak Pengetahuan Keamanan Agar Tidak Kekukat Saat Bermain Di Luar Rumah

JAKARTA - The risk of accidents while playing can be experienced by children. For this reason, parents need to equip them with basic understanding of safety.

Things like a ban on crossing the street carelessly, staying away from open waterways, as well as the obligation to notify parents if a ball or toy is thrown out of the yard, become an important provision before children are allowed to play outside.

Supervision like this is very much needed, especially at an early age, to ensure children play in a safe environment.

Child and family psychologist, Sani B. Hermawan, said that before the child is released from playing outside the home, it should start with a gradual mentoring and supervision process. For kindergarten-age children to elementary school, parents are advised to keep an eye on them first. If it is felt that the child is independent enough, then it can be released slowly, "explained Sani, who is a graduate of the Faculty of Psychology, University of Indonesia.

According to him, when children enter adolescence, such as junior high and high school levels, supervision is still needed even though it is more flexible. Parents should set clear limits, such as playing hours, affordable areas, and the obligation to report about friends and play locations.

"Children still have to be given rules, such as curfews, and habits to tell who they are playing with and where they go. This is important to build responsibility and a sense of security," said the Director of the Insani Daya Psychology Institute.

Sani also reminded parents to understand the characteristics of the residential environment before allowing their children to play. He gave an example, the presence of open holes, slippery road surfaces, or unprotected water flows can be a serious risk for children.

Regarding the number of parents who let small children play outside the house without supervision, even until the evening, Sani called it a form of negligence. Children should not be released without control, especially if they are still not old enough to take care of themselves.

In addition to considering age factors, parents also have to look at environmental conditions, playing time, and who is accompanying their children. If children play with friends of their age who also can't provide help, it's actually risky. They can panic and don't know what to do when something happens," he said.

However, Sani emphasized that children still need space to play outside the home. The important thing is that parents must ensure that the playground is safe, monitored, and age-appropriate. Traditional games such as marbles, congklak, or hide and seek with neighbors can be a healthy and pleasant alternative.

"It doesn't mean that a lot of bad things happen and the child has to keep locked up in the house. It's also not wise. The most important thing is that parents understand what children can and cannot do when playing outside," he concluded.