Psychologist Emphasizes the Need to Prepare Children's Mental before Returning to School

Illustration. (Photo: Dok. Antara)

JAKARTA - Towards the end of the holidays, psychologist Devi Yanti, M. Psi., Psychologist emphasized the need for parents to help prepare children's mental health before returning to school.

"Parents need to pay attention to the emotional condition of the child, such as feeling lazy, anxious, or reluctant to go back to school," said a clinical psychologist who works at the Aceh Mental Hospital when contacted by Antara, from Jakarta on Saturday, January 3.

Devi, who serves as the treasurer of the Indonesian Psychology Association (HIMPSI) Aceh Region, advised parents to communicate with their children and listen to their concerns and expectations before returning to school.

During communication with children, he continued, parents can provide positive images of school activities such as following up on lessons that children like and meeting up with school friends.

A few days before the child returns to school, according to him, parents also need to help adjust the child's sleep and eating patterns, which may change during the holidays.

In addition, he conveyed the need to involve children in preparing equipment, uniforms, to daily schedules during school.

"Consistency of routines accompanied by emotional support and a conducive home atmosphere will help children to adapt more comfortably," he said.

Devi reminded parents to apply clear and consistent rules regarding the duration and time of using gadgets based on an agreement with the child before the end of the holiday.

In addition to limiting the use of gadgets, according to Devi, parents should prepare alternative fun activities together so that children do not only rely on gadgets to get entertainment.

According to him, parents can invite children to make a daily schedule together, tell fun experiences at school, read books together, cook together, or exercise together.

In addition to being able to divert children's attention from gadgets, such joint activities can be a means to foster children's learning spirit and strengthen family emotional bonds.