Involve children in conversations: Expert
Involve children in conversations: Expert
JAKARTA (JP): Parents' failure to involve children in
conversations is the cause of many Indonesians' inability to
express their ideas, an expert said yesterday.
Dr. Lily I. Rilantono, chairperson of the Communication Forum
for the Promotion and Development of the Indonesian Child, said
people often think that expressing ideas is a skill limited only
to adults.
"This is why many parents don't try to include children in
conversations," explained Lily, who is also an expert on
children's heart surgery.
Lily added that an ability to express ideas is also an
indicator to the success of a child's education. She said:
"Children who are able to express ideas show that they receive
good education," said Lily.
Lily announced yesterday the forum will hold a three-day
meeting on child welfare, starting on Friday. Some 180 experts on
children, many of whom are the forum's members, will attend the
gathering which will be opened by Coordinating Minister for
Social Welfare Azwar Anas.
Other speakers at the meeting are Minister of Home Affairs
Moch. Yogie S.M, Minister of National Development Planning
Ginandjar Kartasasmita, and Coordinating Minister for Political
Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman.
The gathering will be opened at the home affairs ministry, but
the meeting will be conducted at Safari Garden Hotel in Cisarua,
Bogor.
"One of our agendas is a discussion about child workers,"
deputy chairman of the forum, Soesanto Martodiharjo, said.
Lily said that it is difficult to reduce the number of child
workers in Indonesia.
"The rapid economic growth is not followed by improvement in
people's income, and that is why some children have to work," she
said.
The number of child workers in Indonesia has increased along
with the growing population. A 1993 survey put the number of
Indonesian working children at 2.6 million, 2.31 million of which
live in rural areas.
In a critical tone, Lily spoke about the multitude of seminars
held to only talk about children, but did nothing to improve
their lot.
"Those people discussed the physical development or the
achievements of children, but failed to pay attention to the
children's mental development such as their inability to
socialize or express ideas," she said.
She explained that the forum, a non-governmental organization
established in 1984 with 11 branches nationwide, has several
departments which campaign for more attention towards children's
mental development.
She said the government has succeeded in reducing the rates of
infant mortality and school dropouts, but pointed out that there
are other urgent problems besides physical growth.
"Children today face different problems, including how to
improve their quality," she said. (31)