P

arents of the multitudinous kids in the capital may have heaved a sigh of relief when plans to create more play and recreational areas for children were announced recently. Such steps taken by the administration will surely bring about consummate happiness to the 3 million children in Jakarta who will have more public space in their name.

This plan has been put forward in the hope of bringing back the ebullient nature of many children who have become too dull and different from what a kid ought to be like. Jakarta already has many public spaces that are spreading their roots across the city. Another addition would further enhance the city's position as a true metropolis.

Kids these days are very different from what they used to be a few decades ago. The advent of technology has completely engulfed them with gizmos and social media. There is no constraint on the usage of mobile phones or the latest Playstation. This attitude is wrong and should be changed immediately. We are humans because God has given us the power to analyze that which we must use ethically. Agreeing with what some parents have complained about in a previous article on the same issue, I strongly feel that going to shopping malls each weekend can become boring over a long period of time.

To tell the gist of the matter with brevity, it can be said that it is a necessity for children to interact with nature. Public spaces particularly designed for kids have many benefits which out-weigh those of going shopping or changing your profile picture on Facebook at home. These public spaces give parents a very good opportunity to spend time with their children and inculcate skills of socialization. Kids can also enjoy the freshness of air in the evening away from the buzz of the city. The indulgence of children from different parts of the city gives rise to both the mental and physical well-being of the youngsters.

The public spaces should not only be built in certain areas of the capital as is being planned. They should engulf the entire area so that there is no discrimination. It is pivotal to understand that such initiatives can have a huge impact on the behavior and psychology of children.

Elucidating all that I have expressed, I can only say that we must fully support such programs by the government so that the future and prosperity of the children and the country as a whole can be kept in safe hands.

Sahil Nandal
Purwakarta, West Java