By: Widya Caterine)*
Jakarta – CIDISS. In the digital era, it would have been easier for parents to find the source of a story of inspiration and source of reading fairy tales to be retold to children. Fairy tales or bedtime stories are actually the thing that is very much beneficial for the child.
Since ancient times, children have been like a fairy tale because it is entertaining. But with the changing times, many parents no longer have the time to simply read bedtime stories so many make our children become lazy or not interested in fairy tales. Moreover, children today are Digital Native generation of highly sensitive information or news. They can easily access stories, news and information from the internet. But in fact the role of software / gadget is not the same as the role of parents in children’s character development engagement.
Truly enormous benefits gained if we parents familiarize themselves diligently to provide a bedtime story or fairy tales such as bonding or strengthen the bond between parents and children and can develop children’s creativity and ability in their languages especially if we give it a fairy tale that has a value -value moral and spirit of togetherness and sincerity in doing something surely will greatly affect the mental attitude and the principle of life of the child later.
Because they play true to the story / fairy tale we have been shaping and directing the character of our children with positive-value value in the story. Curriculum in Indonesia is currently based character education. The character of a child is not obtained instantly because they are not a tool that can be manipulated. Children are an asset, a source of investment afterlife for parents as well as the state and nation
However, as parents we must be selective in choosing a bedtime story such as the legend of Batu Belah Batu Betangkup, the bitter tongue, Shallots – Garlic, and so on, had always carries a message that is so touching, so it is expected to form a private child behaves good and abstain from the temperament is not good according to the characters in the stories.
Citing a bit about the story Si Kancil been featured in the media, that can form a person who is less resilient as well adversely affect the mental development of children because many are told that the Kancil often steal so bring influence to establish personal reluctant to say no to corruption.
Hopefully, these things are not debated further by always instill good values and we as parents who act as storytellers can also play an active role in guiding and directing our children and give more understanding and insight into the characters in the story or fairy tale wisely.
Cognitive intelligence alone is not a determinant of the success of the child in the future, emotional and spiritual intelligence is an important factor that must also be developed in character education of children. So that future generations be the generation that both IQ, EQ and SQ his
Hopefully we can re-cultivate the habit of story telling bedtime stories.
)* The author is CIDISS Jakarta Contributor