Don't Be Forced, Parents Need to Be Aware of Signs That Children Are Not Ready to Fast

Surabaya - National Hospital Surabaya psychiatrist dr. Aimee Nugroho, SpKJ reminded parents to pay attention to the psychological signs of children who are not ready to fast Ramadan.

The introduction of forced fasting can cause emotional stress and impact the child's mental health.

According to Dr. Aimee, parents need to be alert if their child shows emotional changes, such as irritability, excessive crying, or withdrawing from daily interactions. Physical complaints without medical causes, such as abdominal pain, dizziness, or nausea, can also be indicators of psychological stress.

"Excessive anxiety, for example, fear of failing to fast, fear of being scolded, or fear of sinning, can also arise," said Dr. Aimee as reported by ANTARA.

In addition to that, regressive behaviors such as bedwetting, tantrums, or returning to more childish behavior, as well as decreased interest in learning and sleep disorders, need to be noticed. According to Dr. Aimee, these signs do not mean that the child is spoiled, but rather a signal that his psychological burden exceeds the child's ability to cope with it.

The psychiatrist emphasized the importance of distinguishing healthy discipline and psychological pressure. Healthy discipline is seen when children feel challenged but are still safe, can fail without fear, want to try again the next day, and have a sense of pride, not fear.

Meanwhile, psychological pressure arises when children fast because they are afraid of punishment or shame, excessive anxiety before sahur or breaking the fast, forcing themselves even though they are very uncomfortable, and associating fasting with feeling depressed.

"If a child seems obedient but tense, parents need to evaluate their approach," said Dr. Aimee.

In helping children interpret fasting positively, dr. Aimee suggests that fasting is introduced gradually according to the child's mental readiness, not based on age or comparison with other children. Children also need to be convinced that feeling tired or hungry is normal, and their value is not measured by how long they fast.

Parents can support children through empathetic communication, give them space to express their feelings, and emphasize the process of learning fasting. With a consistent approach, children learn to fast with a sense of security, understand the meaning of worship, and make the experience of Ramadan an opportunity to grow.