Establish Effective Communication with Children

#ParentingWithLove - Not all parents can communicate effectively with their children, even though communication is the main key for parents to be closer and to know their children. This was conveyed by Erwin Parengkuan, a presenter and public speaker as well as the Hope Ambassador of Wahana Visi Indonesia in a conversation on Instagram in May 2020.

According to Erwin, good communication between parents and children can make it easier for parents to recognize the child's personality, talents, and character. Bonding with children will also help parents find out about children's interests and characters from an early age.

"Every child has a different character, introverted, extroverted, some are very ignorant. It is our duty as parents to really know the character of the child. The character is genetically inherited, but when the child is 7 years old, they will make adjustments. From character to personality,” said the father of four.

The man who has lived a married life for 22 years explained that basically every child needs space for their parents to listen to. Compassionate love and attention from parents will make children begin to empathize with their environment.

"Empathy will help if children are given adequate attention and affection from their parents. If the kids don't get what they want, they'll look outside," he said.

A "warm" home is what all children dream of. When parents have provided space for children to communicate freely at home, the children will certainly feel at home and comfortable to continue to be near their parents.

Even so, it is important for parents to maintain strong values ??in the family such as discipline and giving appreciation or punishment to children. Parents also need to get to know the world of children more and continue to bond. That way, their interaction will continue to run smoothly.

“Modern parents have to build 'bridges' with children. Parents must dare to apologize because parents are not Superman. If something happens or the relationship is not good, the parents have to say sorry ... so that there will be a bigger door that opens. Today's parents must do bonding,” explained the husband of Jana Parengkuan.

Although the difference in age and generation between parents and children is often an obstacle at this time, according to Erwin, all of these can be controlled by parents. The key is that parents must agree to apply the parenting styles they want to apply to their children.

Erwin and Jana also did this in educating their children. Although both of them come from different family backgrounds, the couple managed to find an agreement that they eventually applied in raising Giulio (21), Marcio (18), Abielo (14), and Matacha (11).

"Children cannot be confined by their parents, children need to have their voices heard, they need to be appreciated, they need to be monitored. This must be done by parents of any generation," he concluded.
 

Written by: Putri ianne Barus, Communications Officer of Wahana Visi Indonesia