Dear Father, This Is Important In The Role Of Husbands In Child Care

Father's role in parenting (Photo: pexels)

JAKARTA - In Indonesian culture, the role of father is emphasized as a major breadwinner in the majority of families. However, a father should be involved in monitoring the growth and development of his children.

Child and adolescent psychologist from the University of Indonesia (UI) Applied Psychology Institute Vera Itabiliana Hadiwijojo stated that a husband cannot give up his responsibilities in participating in monitoring children's growth and development due to busy work times.

Children need the role of their parents to grow physically and mentally healthy. If the father is not involved, the father will also suffer a loss actually because he is not close to the child later," Vera said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, February 16.

Responding to the frequent role of mothers being blamed when children are stunted, Vera said that a husband or father has a significant role in protecting children from being stunted. Moreover, the problem of stunting is not only the responsibility of the mother.

Fathers need to ensure adequate nutrition for their families. On the other hand, fathers need to provide emotional support to mothers before and during pregnancy and be involved in providing parenting patterns.

In this case, the father can get around his busy time by providing a special time so that assistance in children can be maximum and of high quality. Give time to play with children who can build equality with children.

At the very least, the father can show attention to the health of children and mothers, as well as help mothers find joint solutions to the problems they face. Communications that are well established in agreeing on what will be applied or given to children, can maintain both physically and mentally stable health conditions of children.

"Good communication with mothers to discuss children, don't be unwilling to know children's business," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the current stunting relationship with patriarchal culture in Indonesian families, he assessed that this could be one of the stunting factors in children. Therefore, stunting prevention requires the full involvement of both parents, cooperation and cohesiveness of the parents to provide the best for children.

As for the government's advice, Vera reminded that you should not always focus on the mother and child program. There are several community fathers who are active on social media. In this case, the government can invite collaboration to provide education about parenting patterns that are characteristic of fathers.

This suggestion is considered efficient to be easily imitated by a possible father, having difficulty taking time to follow long, time-consuming directions.

Children are the responsibility of both parents, not just mothers. Mothers who do not get support in carrying out their role tend to experience mental fatigue which will interfere with their function in recognizing and meeting children's needs," he said.