Children need to be taught to share<\/p>\n
Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Fostering social awareness in children can be started early
\nbut it needs to be continuously reiterated to ensure that it is
\ninternalized.<\/p>\n
A psychologist with the University of Indonesia, Shinto B.
\nAdelar, said that children as young as 2.5 years old can be
\ntaught to understand what is happening around them by being asked
\nto share what they feel and what other mights feel in a
\nparticular situation.<\/p>\n
The condition can be created by establishing parent-children
\nopenness which can be performed through simple but continuous
\ndialog in a pleasant atmosphere.<\/p>\n
\"At first, encourage the children to think about other people
\naside from themselves and when they are being inconsiderate,
\nparents can tell them what other people or children might feel,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Parents are also advised to explain that selfishness is
\nsocially unacceptable. If children do things that are unkind to
\nothers, like refusing to share candy or food with other children
\nin the room or barring other kids from playing with their new
\ntoys, parents can gently remind them that they are being egoistic
\nand hurting other people's feelings.<\/p>\n
They should then encourage them to share. It is also important
\nto tell them that they cannot get what they want all the time.<\/p>\n
Shinto explained that children need examples from their
\nparents and would imitate positive habits which are continually
\ndemonstrated in a favorable atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Such social awareness, she added, is something to be
\ninternalized and not memorized. Children will then spontaneously
\noffer a hand when they meet people in need.<\/p>\n
Take older children to places where they can see that there
\nare less fortunate children around them, who have to work to pay
\ntheir school fees or just to have one meal a day.<\/p>\n
\"Ask them what would they feel if they are in similar
\nsituation. Teach them to understand other people's condition and
\nfeeling by positioning themselves in similar condition. By doing
\nthis, parents can foster empathy in their children,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Children only learn from their parents in their first few
\nyears but older children can also learn more about social
\nactivities through interaction with teachers and other children.<\/p>\n
If parents notice that their children are not considerate and
\nwarm toward other people, giving constructive comments to
\nmotivate them to change is more effective than using critical
\nremarks.<\/p>\n
\"If it still doesn't work, ignore them but praise them when
\nthey are seen doing positive things.\"<\/p>\n
She explained that parents should shift the focus from
\npunishing mistakes to reinforcing good behaviors, which is more
\neffective.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/children-need-to-be-taught-to-share-1447893297",
"image": ""
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