Psychiatrist: The Home Is Where Children Learn About Healthy Relationships

Psychiatrist in the Community Service Division of PP-PDSKJI, Dr. Lahargo Kembaren, SpKJ, says that families play a crucial role in shaping how children understand healthy relationships. He emphasises that home is the first place a child learns how to respect others and manage their emotions. ‘A healthy relationship isn’t about how often you spend time together happily, but about how safe, nurtured, and valued you feel while in it,’ he said in a statement received by Kompas.com on Sunday, 1 March 2026. Understanding of healthy relationships actually begins from children’s experiences at home. Mutual respect and the ability to apologise also give children an understanding of healthy relationships. Children raised in a family environment with good communication are typically more capable of building healthy relationships as adults. Experiences at home shape how children understand how relationships should unfold. This makes it difficult for parents to know whether their child is facing problems in their relationships. Parents need to listen without immediately lecturing or blaming. Asking calmly and providing support helps children feel valued. This attitude makes children more comfortable sharing stories about the experiences they have.