Let the children play and be happy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Some 40 kindergarten pupils stand neatly in line
\nin front of their classroom. After their teacher gives the order
\ninstructing them to go inside, they march in together and proceed
\nstraight to their desks.<\/p>\n
The teacher then starts the lesson, asking simple questions
\nlike \"one plus one equals...?\"<\/p>\n
\"Two...!\" the pupils reply in unison.<\/p>\n
Or the children participate in some \"routine\" activities, such
\nas drawing or folding colored paper as instructed by the teacher.<\/p>\n
This is the general picture in local kindergartens.<\/p>\n
At home, their busy parents push their children to study more
\nas they worry they will not pass the elementary school entrance
\ntest if they do not master some writing and reading skills.<\/p>\n
\"This is not a children's world. The world of children is
\nunique and it is not the miniature of an adult world,\" child
\npsychiatrist, Kresno Mulyadi, said on Monday during the launching
\nof the first doll that sings in Bahasa Indonesia, Bouncy Baby
\ndoll.<\/p>\n
Kresno pointed out that 18-month-old babies only have the
\nsense of trust. At the age of three, children begin to develop
\ntheir sense of autonomy, by stimulating motor activities, and
\nchildren from three to six need to develop their imagination.<\/p>\n
He called on parents and teachers to guide the children's
\nactivities which best fit their growth and to enable them spend
\nquality time playing with any toy they choose, as it would
\ndevelop their creativity, language ability and their motor skills
\nby role playing.<\/p>\n
Playing with dolls could be therapeutic for distressed
\nchildren. Children might treat the dolls as their younger sisters
\nor daughters or friends.<\/p>\n
\"Parents should not ban boys from playing with dolls and allow
\ngirls to play with pistols. We know many male cooks or designers
\nor policewomen. It is not taboo as most creative people have a
\nbalance of masculine and feminine activities.<\/p>\n
\"Just guide them to develop their own interests and in doing
\nactivities which best fit their growth periods,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Most of the times, parents are always worried when they see
\ntheir children playing and tell them to start studying to earn
\ngood grades.<\/p>\n
\"Playing is a serious matter and is important for children as
\nit is the first phase of learning, and it is not a waste of
\ntime,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Playing helps children grow into an empathetic personality,
\nwith high Emotional Quotient (E.Q.), said Mulyadi, criticizing
\nparents who just want to focus on the children's Intellectual
\nQuotient (I.Q.).<\/p>\n
\"Many children with good grades are constantly anxious and
\nmany others have no motivation to study - they only do it to
\nobtain rewards,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He shared the same idea with the late JB Mangunwijaya about
\nthe inappropriate education system of Indonesian children.<\/p>\n
\"I agree with what Romo (Father) Mangun said for over 30
\nyears, Indonesian children have been maltreated and were not
\nrespected as children,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Many teachers blame the children if they are bored and do not
\npay attention to their instructions or stories and punish them.
\nThis creates fear to study.<\/p>\n
\"Teachers and parents should no longer force children to obey
\nbut should empower them and make them self reliant. They should
\nbe given choices that fit parents' financial ability. It is more
\neducative than telling them what to chose or do,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that teachers need to improve their teaching skills
\ntreat their pupils as subjects in education instead of ordering
\nthem around as objects, giving wrong impressions of educational
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
With such treatment, children associate education with
\ncommands and instructions.<\/p>\n
\"In a good kindergarten, the children are happy, mostly
\nbecause the teachers succeed in presenting the activities in an
\ninteresting way,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He advised parents to be sensible if their children make up
\nreasons to evade school. \"It is an indication that they are not
\nhappy\" Kresno said. (lup)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/let-the-children-play-and-be-happy-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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