JAKARTA - Training children to fast from an early age can be an important part of shaping their character and discipline. Fasting not only teaches children to control hunger and thirst, but helps them learn to manage emotions, be patient, and understand the meaning of empathy for others.
Training children to fast requires the right and fun approach, so that the fasting learning process can be a positive experience for children.
Child specialist from Atma Husada Mahakam Regional Mental Hospital, Wilda Haliza, emphasized the importance of parental creativity in introducing Ramadan fasting. He suggested that fasting be packaged in the form of an interesting challenge so that children are more motivated.
"Children tend to like challenges, so parents can make a fasting mission for a month as a fun challenge," said Wilda in Samarinda.
The introduction of the atmosphere of sahur can begin when children are three to four years old so that they are accustomed to the Ramadan routine. When they reach the age of five to six years, children are generally able to try fasting half a day because their self-control ability begins to develop. According to Wilda, the benefits of fasting are not only physical, but also have an impact on the psychological development of children.
"Fasting teaches children to regulate their emotions and instill a sense of gratitude and social concern through the regularity of the time from sahur to breaking the fast," he explained.
He added that a child's ability to deal with discomfort during fasting will have an impact on the formation of their mental state in the future. "Tolerance for discomfort during fasting will shape the child's fighting spirit and mental state in the future," said Wilda.
However, parents must remain vigilant against potential health disorders. The risk of hypoglycemia needs to be considered because children's sugar reserves are lower than adults. In addition, signs of dehydration must be monitored, one of which is by checking the frequency of urination every six hours.
To maintain fluid needs, Wilda recommends drinking two glasses when breaking the fast, four glasses at night, and two glasses when sahur. For children with certain medical conditions such as type 1 diabetes, fasting can still be carried out as long as blood sugar levels are strictly controlled. Parents also need to coordinate with the school so that the child's health condition is understood and there is no compulsion to fast completely.
"Based on existing medical research, fasting has been proven not to interfere with cognitive function and children's learning ability at school," he said.
He also reminded that lack of sleep is often a challenge during Ramadan. Therefore, children must still get enough rest time, which is around nine to eleven hours every day.
As a form of motivation, parents are allowed to give simple appreciation. "Giving small gifts is very permissible to motivate children to be enthusiastic about fasting in this holy month," concluded Wilda.
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