Children reluctant to tell about their experiences in daycare, here's what parents should do

Illustration of accompanying toddlers playing together at the Pelita House, Manyaran, Semarang, Central Java. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Concerns often arise in the minds of parents when children who are entrusted at daycare come home without much story about what they experienced throughout the day.

Silence or short answers often make parents wonder, whether the child feels comfortable, or there is something he does not want to say. In situations like this, the right approach to communication is the key to making children more open.

The Indonesian Psychology Association (HIMPSI) shares a number of tips so that children who are entrusted in daycare want to tell about their activities. Psychologist Devi Yanti, M.Psi., explained that the approach used by parents greatly affects the child's response.

"For children who can already speak, there are several effective approaches," he said.

One of the recommended ways is to use open and specific questions. Simple questions such as "is today fun or not" tend to produce short answers, so they do not dig into the child's experience thoroughly.

"Instead of asking if today was fun, try asking what you were playing, with whom or was there a funny incident today?" he explained.

Building a storytelling routine is also important so that children are used to sharing experiences. Times like dinner, bathing, or before bed can be the right moment because the atmosphere tends to be more relaxed and comfortable.

In addition, parents are urged to control their reactions when listening to children's stories, especially if children convey worrying things.

"If your child tells you something that worries you, try not to panic in front of your child. Excessive reactions can make your child feel guilty for telling you and choose to be silent later," said Devi.

As an alternative, communication can also be built through play media. Using dolls, pictures, or role-playing can help children express feelings that are difficult to express directly.

Furthermore, Devi emphasized that entrusting children in daycare is not something that needs to be viewed negatively, especially for working parents. With good quality of care, children can actually benefit from social interaction and structured activities.

"However, it is undeniable that there is a stigma that good mothers do not entrust their children, but that is an unfair social construction. The most important thing is not where the child is raised, but how the quality of care the child receives," he said.

He also touched on the case that occurred at the Aresha Daycare as a reminder of the importance of supervision of childcare institutions. According to him, the event is a signal for the government and stakeholders to strengthen the licensing and supervision system to ensure child safety.