Lowering Cognitive, Social And Emotional Functions, Kemenduk Proudly Warns Of More Screentime In Children

Illustration of screen time (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Screentime is a time that is used to use computers, watch television, or play video games. Excessive screentime in children has a negative impact on child growth and development, such as a decrease in children's cognitive, social and emotional functions.

Secretary of the Ministry of Population and Family Development (Kemenduk bangga), Prof. Budi Setiyono, S.Sos, M.Pol. Admin., Ph.D., said that screentime is an important aspect of early childhood care.

Based on Susenas data, 35.57% of young children access the internet and 39.71% use cell phones. The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) has provided recommendations for early childhood.

"So, it is not recommended for children under 1 year old; Videochatting with assistance in children aged 1 to 2 years; No more than 1 hour for children aged 2 to 3 years; and no more than 1 hour for children aged 3 to 6 years," he said in an official broadcast received by VOI.

Furthermore, he conveyed about family data collection related to the early childhood care program.

Based on the results of the 2024 Family Data Collection Update, nationally (except for DK Jakarta), the number of children aged 0 to 72 months is 11,644,385 and which is at 1 to 4 is 5,546,772. or 47.3%.

The percentage of early childhood children in decile 1 to 4 who do not have birth certificates is 19.49% with the largest proportion in the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara, Papua Mountains, Central Papua, and Papua. The percentage of early childhood in decile 1 to 4 that does not have health insurance is 53.37% with the largest proportion in the provinces of West Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Jambi, and East Nusa Tenggara.

The percentage of young children in decile 1 to 4 living in uninhabitable houses is 56.54% with the largest proportion in the provinces of Papua Mountains, East Nusa Tenggara, Central Papua, and West Kalimantan.

"Early parenting patterns," said Prof. Budi will encourage the realization of the mission in the fourth Asta Cita, namely strengthening human resource development (HR), science, technology, education, health, sports achievements, gender equality, and strengthening the role of women, youth, and people with disabilities.

Also the sixth mission, namely building from villages and from below for economic equality and poverty eradication. Supported by a life cycle-based family development program.

"Investment of human resources, especially starting from pre-conception to 1000 Days First Life (HPK), is an important thing to achieve the Golden Generation, by preparing the young generation of Indonesia who are of high quality, competent, and competitive quality," explained Prof. Budi.