Devices Are Not Second Caretakers For Children

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - Parents play an important role in digital literacy in children, not only assisting but also guiding the use of the internet in children. In the digital era, internet use cannot be separated from every aspect of life, especially for child care.

On the occasion of a talk show attended by Celebrity Andien Aisyah and Child Specialist, dr. William Jayadi Iskandar at the Mega Anggrek Hotel, today's mothers share experiences and learning so that they have qualified digital literacy and are easily applied to parenting patterns. Still part of a series of Digital Literacy Obral Activities, this time the Ministry of Communication and Informatics together with the Community of Birthday Club, held a talk show with the theme Petwoapuan Aprlittle: Mother's Digital Literacy Love to Beta, on Saturday 18 May.

The development of children today is very affected by the digital world. Therefore, parents must be wise in in introducing gadgets to their children. If not, the stimulation of children's growth and development will be affected, and can have a bad impact.

Child specialist, dr. William Jayadi Iskandar revealed that the first thousand days of children's lives will greatly affect their health and development as adults. Because in the first years of child development, 80% of children's brains have been formed and begin recording the information they get.

Data from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission reveals that 98 percent of children aged 6-12 years have used devices, and on average children use gawia per day for 6 hours 45 minutes to watch videos, use game applications, and use social media.

dr. William emphasized that parents should understand the risk factors for using gadgets in children and must set limits on the use of gadgets and the internet.

"Batation of screen time. From the Pediatrician Professional Organization, you have set a screen time limit for children. For example, children under 2 years old, not at all except for video calls. Between 2-5 years a maximum of 1 hour per day. Children over 5 years a maximum of 2 hours per day," said William.

As a mother of 2 children, Andien Aisyah feels the benefits of the internet providing convenience for children in accessing knowledge. However, Andien is also aware of the risks of using the internet, that it is as if the internet accommodates curiosity but often isolates, and leads to tracing information on random topics.

"But I'm sure that among all the numbers one is communication with children. If communication outside the digital world is good, eating in the digital world is also good," explained Andien.

According to Andien, the parenting model in the world that is full of distraction as it is today is democratically, where children are invited to consult and can chat fun and apply the same thing. In fact, when the child is angry, parents should identify why the child is angry and apply an agreement to the child when using a device.

To prevent gadget addiction to children, the Ministry of Health recommends parents to spend more time with their children and have the initiative to carry out activities that stimulate children to carry out interesting activities such as playing dolls or hide and seek.

In order to avoid being addicted to gadgets, parents must also be wise by not using gadgets as a second caregiver or a means to distract children while busy. Instead of using gadgets to attract children's attention, parents are also advised to actively ask what activities they want to do with their parents.