Warm communication is important for creating a safe home for children

A lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Theresia Novi Poespita Candra, S.Psi., M.Si., Ph.D., a psychologist, says that a home that is safe for children must be built through dialogue and the emotional presence of parents, including warm communication.

“A home is a safe place to come home to. Children feel accepted as they are, whether in good condition or not,” Novi said when contacted by ANTARA from Jakarta on Tuesday.

One indicator of a home safe for children is open dialogue and warm interaction between parents and children. She says the home should be a place for children to tell stories, ask questions, and express their feelings without fear of judgement.

“Deep talk (deep conversations) is rarely the case,” she said.

Family interactions, Novi reminded, have recently been triggered by technological developments and the intensity of family members’ busyness, which has made family interactions more limited. She cited that even in the same room, everyone is busy with their own devices, so warm communication does not occur.

Novi said this condition makes children tend to seek other spaces to vent their emotions and problems because they are not accustomed to dialoguing with the family. In fact, she said, the home should be an ‘immune system’ for children when facing external pressures from school or socialising.

“When external conditions are not good, children should feel safe at home,” she said.

Therefore, she urged parents to start setting aside special time with the family without device distractions to foster emotional closeness with their children.

“Children don’t need to be constantly admonished; they need to be listened to,” Novi said.