With the modernisation and transition of technology that allows all ages to access, it is inevitable that there will be a revolution in the understanding of the concept of socialising. The existence of a variety of gadgets that support children's activities such as tablets, smartphones, and even the existence of console games complete with a selection of online games can potentially affect children's concentration and social power. 

In the case of Indonesia, which predominantly fosters the concept of ‘result’ over ‘process’ even in early education, many children are accustomed to an instant education system and even the existence of results as an absolute determinant of results has the potential to foster individualism as a child grows up. 

This results in children tending to compete with each other to get high grades, rather than focusing on character building or wisdom development.  This competitive attitude will continue to impact students as they enter the world of work and social life in society.

As one reference, in the context of Japanese culture there is a class of people from children to teenagers and even adults who often like to be alone to avoid social life, this phenomenon is called ‘Hikikomori’. This can occur due to various factors ranging from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) arising from the social environment, to some of the factors mentioned earlier. According to a survey conducted by the March Cabinet Office in 2022, there are 1.46 billion people who have antisocial tendencies. 

In the spirit of Indonesia's National Children's Day, which is held with the aim of raising public awareness about children's rights, such as the rights to education, health, protection, and participation. In addition, with the increase of individualism and the decline of social skills, character development in National Children's Day in order to form a nation's successor who not only prosper academically but also socially is an obligation for parents and child advocates. 

Through various games that involve cooperation, such as group games or team sports, can help children learn about the importance of working together with others to achieve a common goal. It also teaches them about communication, compromise, and overcoming conflict.

Encourage children to think about how their actions can affect others and why it is important to behave well. These small steps in home learning can help children manage their perception of the social world, that there is not only a black and white world but also a grey side. Automatically, these two small steps will also cultivate the child's Emotional Intelligence (EQ) management.

From external support, there are several ways to nurture the social spirit interactively, such as Group Discussions. Local interactive activities such as the NoBar (Nonton Bareng) event held by the National Library (PerPusNas) which includes various films such as ‘Weathering With You’ and ‘Tendangan Dari Langit’ held on 25 June 2024, can foster a sense of community through open forum discussions on the films shown. 

Overall, education that comes not only from the family but also what children get when they socialise productively can minimise individualism and foster a healthy sense of social cohesiveness through free discussions that are conducive to a certain topic. It is hoped that with the spirit of character development through National Children's Day, children will not only be strong on their own but will grow strong with a sense of family and social cohesion that will help them through life. 

(Danang Respati Wicaksono / HUMAS UNDIRA)

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