Gateway To The Golden Age Of Children: Parent's Interaction

Ilustrasi (Raga Granada/VOI)

Previously, we discussed the fatal effects of gadget usage on children's development. If not used wisely, devices can inhibit children's growth, especially in their golden age. In fact, this golden age is said to be determining the future. Written in the next edition of VOI's Article Series "Gathering the Golden Age of Children": about the importance of understanding a child's period of most rapid development.

The role of parents is so essential in the growth and development of the baby. They can transform into anything. Like a playmate, or a teacher. In a philosophical sense, the family is the child's first institution. However, this can happen if they really understand and can optimize the golden age of children. So what is the true golden age of the child?

In essence, the golden age is the golden age in the lives of children. The golden age is generally categorized as 0-5 years old. This is a critical period for children's emotional, social, and spiritual growth and development.

In this phase, children should get more attention from their parents. Because parents can shape the character of their children. Through the intake of new knowledge or teaching children to distinguish good and bad things.

According to a study published by the California Department of Education (CDE), when children grow up, parents have an important role in shaping personality. Parents must understand that every child has a different personality and behavior. Just like adults, children may be shy, cheerful, or even angry. For that, it is important to maintain healthy emotional growth between person and child. Mainly, every time your little one grows up, they need more love, understanding, and time from their parents.

Love, understanding, and time can take the form of simple steps. Can parents be more active in spending time with children? Parents are active in speaking, reading, or waiting for them. It is even more interesting if the teaching is punctuated by games that stimulate cognitive and creativity. The rest, parents must make sure that every child born is special. Alias varies from one child to another.

Illustration (Source: Unsplash)

The Stages of the Golden Age

For more details regarding the important stages of the golden age, we contacted the psychologist, Dya Adis Putri Rahmadanti. From Dya, we understand that parents must be pro-active. The parents are the beginning. Parents can become actors as well as directors who accompany the child's growth and development. Therefore, parents are required to be able to make a narrative that is in tune with the children's potential and abilities. Then, Dya classified the golden age stages into five main stages.

First, parents must pay attention to the fine motor development of children. This fine motoric includes how the child can do fine activities - if not light activities. For example, learning to draw, color, to fold paper. This activity is very useful for practicing writing skills and honing children's creativity.

Second, parents should pay attention to gross motor development. This development is very important for children so that they can control their muscles. For example, with the skills of climbing, swimming, jumping, and other sports activities.

Third, parents should pay attention to cognitive development. Cognitive development is the development of children to process and classify something that is visible to the five senses. For example, by frequently inviting children to visit new places, entertainment venues, zoos, beaches, and mountains. After that, the children are asked to tell their experiences. Starting from what has been seen, what makes you happy, and so on. Through cognitive development, children can think logically, as well as speak well.

Fourth, the person must recognize developmental disorders in children. The role of parents, in this case, must be dexterous and quickly understand the location of the disturbance, because it is very influential for the development of children in the future. These disorders usually include disorders of social interaction, speech disorders, fine motor disorders, and gross motor disorders.

Fifth, parents must recognize and support children's potential. For example, they have been seen to be associated with an activity, be it in terms of writing or music. So, parents must be at the forefront of providing support.

Infographics (Raga Granada/VOI)

Control of Emotions at the Golden Age

Apart from cognitive and personality development, emotional development is also very important for children. Parents, said Dya, must be able to pay attention and teach children to control emotions. Take for example, when a child cries. The average parent wants to make their child stop crying.

In fact, it is also embellished by the persuasion sentence: "You don't cry." Psychologically it is wrong. In fact, children never learn to control their emotions. In that context, parents wait for their child's emotions to subside. However, during this process, the parents are at the side of the child.

The fruit, it will affect when the children reach adolescence or adulthood. At that age, they will tend to be private about their problems. They do not dare to express their emotions and are confused about how to control their emotions. If there is an assumption that emotional matters should be controlled after adolescence, then that is not quite the right opinion. In fact, the golden age is a perfect time.

"Whereas in controlling emotions, it is very important to teach them, there is no need to wait for older children to be taught, it is better to teach them during the golden age. We as parents can exemplify how to manage good emotions in children, listen to children when they are experiencing negative emotions, and accept negative emotions in the child, said Dya when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, March 24.

Optimize the Role of Parents

Maybe if the needs of the child's golden age are ignored, the child will experience less than optimal growth and development. Based on that, Dya suggested that parents always be affectionate towards their children. After that, parents must instill the mindset that each child has their own advantages.

That move will make the child grow in affection. As a result, children will develop optimally. They will grow up to be intelligent people, creative people, or tough people. All thanks to the role of parents. They have to play many roles. At times they can be friends, good listeners, or even a teacher to their children.

"Optimizing to support the golden age of children, in my opinion, the most important thing is the presence and attention of the parents. How can parents really take part in helping children develop their children's personality, emotions, cognitive and motor skills," said Dya.

"Even though it's only at home, there are many things that parents can do with their children. There is no word there is no time for parents, what there is whether the parents want to assist the golden age of their children at this time," she concluded.