Don't Let The COVID-19 Pandemic Make Children Addicted To Playing Devices

Illustration of a child playing (Image by Prashant Sharma from Pixabay)

JAKARTA - There is concern in the commemoration of National Children's Day during the COVID-19 pandemic this year. Children spend more time playing games on electronic devices such as cell phones and computers.

Inevitably, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the government making restrictions on children, such as learning distance from home via online, to advising children not to play outside with their friends.

Child psychologist from the University of Indonesia, Rose Mini Agoes Salim, said there was a potential for children to become addicted to playing devices from the restriction policy during the COVID-19 outbreak.

When children have finished studying online, they need to refresh their minds and fill their spare time. Meanwhile, they cannot leave the house to play and end up playing devices to get rid of boredom.

What is worrying is that children become addicted to playing and become lazy about learning. On that basis, Rose Mini said that parents should keep their children from relying on gadgets to fill their spare time.

"The problem of children playing games can be overcome by parents. Therefore, when introducing a device to a child, parents must first emphasize that the device is only used for learning," Rose Mini told VOI, Thursday, July 23.

The problem is, Rose Mini sees many parents who prohibit their children from playing devices without any other way to fill their children's spare time. Supposedly, parents can provide other activities that make children interested.

"For example, children like to play ball. Because with their limitations, they are not allowed to play on the field with their friends, parents should be able to find other ways such as playing handball using lumped paper. That can be a game," explained Rose Mini.

"If it is prohibited to use gadgets, make sure we have something that makes children interested. But don't stop using gadgets without us doing anything. This is not fair for children. It's not allowed to leave the house, not invited to play indoors either," he added.

In addition, parents must also teach children to apply the COVID-19 prevention protocol because the pandemic is not over.

Said Rose Mini, teaching the application of child health protocols must be preceded by imitation. That is, children behave in accordance with what they imitate in their surroundings.

"Fathers must first apply the COVID-19 protocol, such as diligently washing their hands, wearing masks, maintaining distance, not leaving the house if they are not urgent. Later the children will follow suit," he said.

Because cognitive development or the ability to acquire children's knowledge is still limited, Rose Mini views parents need to explain the COVID-19 protocol in a way that is fun and easy to understand.

"Teaching can be created with games. For example, if our hands are smeared with ink paint that is only visible when (glow in the dark). If there is no bright light, but paint or germs are actually there. So, if you don't wash your hands, it won't disappear. , "he explained.