JAKARTA - Healthy communication between parents and adolescents is an important foundation in supporting children's emotional and mental development.
This harmonious relationship helps create trust, strengthen family relationships, and allows teens to feel heard and understood.
Parents need to create an environment that supports open communication, where children feel safe to express their opinions, feelings, and concerns.
Head of the Psychiatric Division of Children and Youth from the Department of Mental Health of FKUI Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), Prof. Dr. dr. Tjhin Wiguna, Sp.KJ(K), emphasized that active communication and mutual respect is the main key in building a strong relationship between parents and adolescents.
"Active communication means that both parties can listen to each other and respect their respective perspectives," said Prof. Tjhin as quoted by ANTARA.
He emphasized the importance of an open attitude of parents and not being quick to judge when hearing their children's opinions. This allows teenagers to feel more comfortable talking, especially about the problems they face.
On the other hand, the ability of parents to control emotions and remain calm when there are differences of opinion is also an important factor in keeping communication positive.
According to Prof. Tjhin, self-reflection over the pattern of ongoing communication can help parents improve their way of interacting with their children. Youth is a period in which children begin to develop abstract thinking skills and learn to understand the world more complexly.
Therefore, parents are advised to take advantage of this moment by establishing more in-depth and meaningful communication.
"Parents need to have close relationships with their children from an early age in order to read the signs of discomfort they may show," he added.
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In addition to building good communication, Prof. Tjhin also highlights the challenges of helping teenagers make wise decisions, especially when they are faced with difficult choices or negative influences from the environment. Embedded moral education from an early age is one of the effective ways to guide children in distinguishing good and bad behavior.
"The moral education, which starts at the age of toddlers and continues until adolescence, is an important provision to help children understand the correct values," he explained.
Prof. Tjhin emphasized that the role of parents as active companions in the process of making children's decisions is very important. By providing direction through constructive discussions, parents can help their children understand the consequences of their choices. The family and school environment must also support the formation of these moral values consistently.
"Schools and homes are the main places to instill moral education. Parents need to continue to accompany their children so that they can make the right choices for themselves," he concluded.
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