Limit Your Child's Use of Devices by Activities Together

JAKARTA - Child psychologist who graduated from the University of Indonesia Fathya Artha Utami, M.Sc., M.Psi, said parents can limit their child's use of gadgets by making routines or schedules for activities and playing together.

"During the pandemic, the use of the internet and gadgets has increased dramatically. For example, when parents are in a meeting, the child is finally given a gadget. However, this can be circumvented, starting from the schedule when he is given a gadget, when he has to play with mom and dad, it has to be regulated," Fathya said in a web seminar some time ago, reported by Antara.

Furthermore, Fathya said parents do not need to be fixated on inviting their children to do physical activities, moreover, parents must also be tired because their energy is also drained when working even from home.

Many types of activities and games can be done together. In fact, Fathya did not rule out the possibility of playing gadgets together.

"Other activities are not just physical activity. Invite children to play which parents are also excited about. Using gadgets can also be healthy when together with (accompaniment) their parents," she said.

"We can also work around this by, for example, printing cartoon characters that he sees on the gadget, then drawing and sticking them together. This is of course to make children less playing with gadgets, but there is a strategy for when to play and take off gadgets. The distraction is kept away and avoided," she added.

However, what if the child refuses and becomes angry? When asked about it, the psychologist who is also educated at the University of Amsterdam recommends parents not to give certain "punishments" when the child is stubborn.

"This punishment is not effective in helping children understand whatever we want to teach. When we give punishment, we will lose the moment to explain why parents are angry," said Fathya.

"Instead of giving punishment, it's better to accept the emotions he feels first. Talk to the child, what makes the child angry, then we explain what behavior we expect. The child is (angry) because maybe that's the only thing he just found out. We have to tell that there are other options that can be done. Parents can redirect to more constructive behavior. However, it does take time to guide and regulate children's emotions," she added.

An angry child does not rule out the possibility that his parents will anger him, and even scold him again. Fathya said, parents who have already scolded their children, it is obligatory for the father or mother to come to the child and admit his mistake.

"Kids, the term is we raise adults. If we let go of anger, how? We come and admit our mistakes. Explain why. Parents can explain, and follow with solutions that children can understand. This is also a relief," she said.