Daycare must meet children's basic needs for optimal growth

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chair of the Coordinating Working Unit for Growth and Development and Social Paediatrics of the Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI), Dr. dr. Fitri Hartanto Sp.A Subsp TKPSK (K), stated that childcare facilities or daycares must be able to meet children’s basic needs to ensure they are healthy and develop normally. The basic needs in question are not only physical but also biogenetic, neurodevelopmental aspects, and social aspects. “How children’s nutritional needs are met, their health, a healthy environment, consistent positive parenting patterns, love, appreciation, positive stimulation, learning, interaction—these are the basic needs of children that must be fulfilled by their parents. If even one is not met, the child will not achieve optimisation of their genetic potential,” she said during an online discussion in Jakarta on Wednesday. She explained that this approach, known as nurturing, caring, and stimulating parenting, aligns with the WHO’s recommendations for supporting optimal child growth. This approach is recommended to be provided by caregivers, including the surrounding community that supports the child’s needs. Fitri stated that fulfilling children’s basic needs can be optimised through the primary line, namely parents, as well as assistance from other lines if parents have time limitations in caring for the child, referred to as the meso environment. “When parents are unable to meet a child’s basic needs, one aspect being caregiving, then seek help from the meso environment, the helping environment, and the daycare’s position is here,” she said. Fitri explained that daycares need to uphold values regarding the essence of early childhood development and how to play a role in child rearing to fulfil part of the basic needs so that their growth remains optimal. Caregivers in daycares must also have competence in learning and child psychology aspects, provide a safe and supportive environment for holistic development covering physical, cognitive, social, and emotional needs. Effective communication and positive interactions in caregiving will provide much learning for the children being cared for. Fitri explained that child neglect (Child Abuse and Neglect) encompasses all forms of painful physical or emotional treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, commercial exploitation that result in actual injury or harm to the child’s health, survival, growth and development, or dignity. “This phenomenon is like an iceberg, where visible cases seem few but the number of children at risk of violence is quite large. This is why it’s important to pay attention to these aspects when parents are raising children—it’s not enough just to drop them off,” she said. To protect children from violence risks during daycare care, parents need to check the physical safety aspects that daycares should provide. Care for children under three years old must be based on care, not authoritarian, which can cause fear and potentially lead to early signs of depression. She stated that the task of accompanying and meeting children’s basic needs remains with parents, but selecting childcare or daycare facilities that meet national standards and have clear legality can be a consideration for parents in fulfilling optimal child development needs.