Raising Interest In Reading Children In The Middle Of Online Game Temptation

Raising interest in reading in children amidst the onslaught of online games (Adelia/VOI)

JAKARTA - In the midst of such rapid technological advances, today's children cannot be separated from gadgets. However, how to maintain a balance between the digital world and reading habits?

Roosie Setiawan, author of the children's book and Founder of Reading Bugs - Indonesian Read Aloud Community (RAI), emphasized the importance of the role of parents as a limiting and directing party. This was revealed by Roosie through the National Book Day with McDonald's Indonesia.

"Parents as an authority must impose restrictions. It must be balanced, today's children may not be exposed to cellphones. Today's children can't possibly not play games," said Roosie, when met in the Tebet area, South Jakarta on Tuesday, May 20.

According to him, the presence of online games is not always negative. Many online games are also educational, but still have to be balanced with other activities that stimulate the physical and cognitive development of children.

"There are also many good games. But there must be balance between physical activities meeting books, interacting with people and gadgets," he added.

Roosie also underlined the importance of early reading habits, even since the baby was born. He explained that the baby's hearing has been perfectly formed since the end of the pregnancy trimester, so it is time to introduce the voices of those closest to you, one of which is through reading loudly.

"Ideally, this loud reader is done after the baby is born. So this baby is born, even the trisemester of birth has a perfect hearing function. So it's time to introduce our voices to the baby," said Roosie.

Books are effective media in this process, especially physical books that are friendly for an early age. He suggested that children under the age of two should not be exposed to light from television or cell phones.

"The easier way to use books. So read the children's book, ideally, yes. If a cellphone is technology, books can be introduced digitally or non-digitally. But 0-24 months can't be exposed to television light, let alone cellphone light. So use physical books, many softbooks are suitable for babies," he explained.

Roosie said that this early literacy process must be carried out in stages. Starting by introducing the form of books, listening to parents' voices, so that children know and produce words and sentences.

"The forms of the baby's book must be introduced because it is indeed a way to introduce early literacy with book introductions, listen to sounds, then there is vocabulary, even though he has not responded but he has heard. So that within 12 months he has produced the word, 24 months he has produced the phrase or short sentence," he said.

One of the moments parents often use to read books is going to bed. However, according to Roosie, reading time can be adjusted.

"Why do you read books for children that are famous before going to bed? That is one way to calm children, from the period of our activities we calm by reading books, but basically whenever the child is ready, parents are ready, that's the ideal time for the story," he said.

Commitment to child literacy also came from PT Rekso Nasional Food, the license holder for McDonald's Indonesia who donated 100 books. Meta Rostiawati, the company's Associate Director of Communications, said that collaboration with the Read Aloud community had been going on for a long time.

"For this literacy inspiration program, it has been initiated long ago, meaning it has been a long time, because we want to be sustainable. I and Mrs. Roosie have collaborated since 2009," said Meta.

In 2009, the Read Aloud program touched more than 30 McDonald's restaurants in the Greater Jakarta area. This program continues, one of which is through the Zhafa Reading House in Bekasi.

"At Zhafa Read House, this is officially carried out in 2022. What will it take? We renovate this, help the house, Alhamdulillah have good facilities. McDonald's is here to help renovate it so it can be like this, that's why it's called McDonald's Library," explained Meta.

At Rumah Baca Zhafa, children from various backgrounds can access books and study for free. Yudy Hartanto, founder of Rumah Baca Zhafa, said that learning activities in that place took place intensively.

"There are 17 children who join the Zhafa Read House. But actually in this Read House there are approximately 150 children. They study at our place every day, we provide free books, read and study for free at our place. So Monday "Friday full children study at our place." Yudy explained.