Can Parents Know Children's Privacy? – As parents, we want to know a lot about our children, but parents often forget that children also have their privacy.
When children go through adolescence period, they start wanting freedom, such as closing their bedroom door, not wanting to be taken to school, and starting to keep secrets. It is natural for children to do this because they are building privacy boundaries with their parents.
According to Allison Kawa, Psy. D., a child psychologist quoted from parents.com, says that friends of the same age play a significant and essential role in a child's life at this age. This also changes the desire to have their privacy—for example, changing clothes and expressing their deepest feelings through a diary.
Then, can parents know their children's privacy? Indeed, what is child privacy? Then, how do parents provide privacy to children? Come on, see the following explanation!
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What is Child Privacy?
As they grow older, children need their own space. They want to be safe and comfortable when expressing their feelings and maintain secrecy. In simple terms, privacy is the right to regulate how much access other people have to us or other people's access to our personal space.
Children will be susceptible if their parents violate their privacy. In fact, they are very protective of their privacy. If parents are too "inquisitive" and continue to violate children's privacy, this will harm the relationship between parents and children.
What is the importance of respecting children's privacy? Giving space to children by respecting their privacy can lead to good development for them. Children will feel confident and think their parents have confidence in them.
When children have freedom, they will be more independent in dealing with problems. Sometimes, children can't tell their parents some things, such as romantic relationships or physical changes they are going through. They will be more comfortable telling stories to their friends their age.
Parents must be good at finding a balance between wanting to know their child's development, giving space, and knowing when to intervene in their child's problems. Approximately how? Read the following explanation!
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How Parents Provide Privacy To Children
When giving children freedom, parents cannot wholly escape the responsibility of looking after children. Even though children already have freedom, parents must also know the extent of the limitations of this freedom. Here are some limits that parents can make in respecting children's privacy.
1. Use of Social Media
In today's digital age, children spend more time in front of screens and surfing the internet. Social media is the new child's private space.
In maintaining boundaries in social media, parents and children must agree on matters related to the use of social media. For example, can parents see chat children with their friends' children, or can parents access their child's Instagram account?
If not allowed, parents must respect the child's decision. However, still advising about good and bad things in social media to children.
Also, please pay attention to the use of language and the way it is delivered. Make sure parents don't act like they are patronizing children but advise more relaxedly and adjust to their characteristics.
2. Don't Watch Secretly
Secretly supervising the child, in this case, means checking the child's cupboards and drawers, looking at the child's cell phone, the bag, and other things are done without asking for the child's consent.
Instead, parents respect their children more by asking for approval to open their belongings. Because overseeing them indicates that parents cannot put their trust in their children. This, of course, can lead to conflict between children and parents.
3. Appreciate Diary for Kids
Children often write serious problems in their diary and store them in the room's drawer. Sometimes they lock up the diary diary with the padlock obtained when buying a diary.
If parents want to give their children privacy, they must respect the diary made by children by not reading them. The child may not like his parents to read the book directly because it feels too personal for him.
So, it's better to wait for the child to tell you, Whizparent, than you do peek at your child's diary because it can hurt their trust.
4. Not Imposing the Child's Will
When children grow up, they have different tastes and preferences from their parents. Whether in terms of music, dress style, hobbies, idols, and even ideals. Parents must respect every child's decision and not impose their personal preferences on the child.
Unfortunately, in Indonesia, many children are still forced to follow their parents' wishes. For example, they enter college according to the wishes of their parents. In fact, the child could be more comfortable and like it.
Such coercion can cause children not to be free to live their lives. Children also become unable to make their own decisions. If Whizparent wants to respect a child's privacy, try not to force their child's wishes.
Even so, parents still have to guide their children in making decisions. Because often, children quickly make decisions without thinking about the consequences they will face in the future.
5. Listening to Children's Opinions
As a parent, feelings of happiness and pride must exist when a child excels. Parents will often publish photos of their children and their caption caption to social media as an expression of satisfaction. However, it turns out that not all children like it.
Again, every parent must recognize the characteristics of their child. Please pay attention to their likes and dislikes so that the Whizparent can adjust your attitude. For example, if the child doesn't like the photo isbeingpublish on their parents' social media.
Even if the parents' intentions are good, it would be better for Whizparent to talk to the child first. It is possible that the child does not like it when his face is exposed. So, Whizparent can change the photo to a photo of the appreciation they received, such as a certificate or trophy.
Katie Goldstein also conveyed this: a mother from New York and one children's privacy lawyer, cited in her article at Dear parentsthat every parent would want to share beautiful moments with their children. However, we must also be aware that social media is a comprehensive and commonly used platform worldwide so that family privacy can be spread instantly.
6. Create and Agree to Privacy Rules
Parents have to maintain their children's privacy, but more freedom is needed to be given to children. Whizparent must discuss with the child regarding these privacy rules. After discussion, parents and children will agree upon the rules.
Whizparents also have to think positively, yes. Be confident in your child's ability to do all things positively. Because it can also foster a child's sense of independence and responsibility. That way, mutual trust will grow between the child and parent relationship.
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So, the child's privacy limits depend on every agreement that has been discussed between the child and the parent. Always think positively of your child so that Whizparent can develop a sense of trust in them.
In the Whiz Financial App., parents can see their children's financial activities through the monitoring feature without fear of violating the child's privacy. This feature will benefit parents who are "blind" about their children's economic activities.
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