The Role of Parents in Developing Children’s Interest in Reading and Listening

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, has encouraged the strengthening of students’ physical and mental health as an important part of building a Golden Indonesia 2045. He emphasized that these efforts need to be carried out collectively by strengthening the education ecosystem, involving parents, educational institutions, communities, universities, the media, as well as relevant ministries and government agencies.

As quoted from the Kemendikdasmen.go.id website, Minister Abdul Mu’ti stated that health covers not only physical aspects, but also mental and spiritual health, which need to receive equal attention.This has become increasingly important amid the various challenges faced by today’s younger generation.

“There are two main aspects that are closely related to education. The first is physical health, and the second is mental or spiritual health. We need both of these aspects, both for the present and for the future,” Minister Abdul Mu’ti said at the launch of the Indonesian Center for Health Evidence-Informed Policy (I-CHIP) in South Tangerang on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Through the 7 Habits of Great Indonesian Children (7 KAIH), Minister Abdul Mu’ti explained that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) encourages schools not only to serve as places where students acquire academic knowledge, but also as spaces where they can develop healthy lifestyles, character, social skills, and mental and spiritual well-being.

“Indonesia’s 2045 generation should be physically and mentally healthy. Therefore, we need to build a strong culture that promotes physical, spiritual, and intellectual strength. One of the efforts we are implementing to achieve this is through the 7 KAIH,” he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the strengthening of the education ecosystem involving parents, several parents took part directly in the learning process of first-grade elementary school students through the Guest Teacher program at Dwi Matra Islamic School in Jakarta on Friday, September 18, 2026. The program invited parents to serve as guest teachers, using storytelling and role-playing activities tailored to children's interests.

Five parents collaborated to present a story titled The Hungry and Curious Caterpillar. They portrayed various characters, including a caterpillar, butterfly, beetle, and cocoon, using masks and simple props.

The story followed a small green caterpillar which is always hungry and curious about different foods. Apples, bananas, strawberries, cakes, and broccoli become part of the caterpillar's journey as it discovers new foods and learns from each experience.

Through the story, students were encouraged to understand the importance of maintaining healthy eating habits, learning from experience, and listening to advice. One of the lessons was illustrated when the caterpillar developed a stomachache after eating too much cake.

Fita, a first-grade homeroom teacher at Dwi Matra Islamic School, said parental involvement in classroom activities provides students with new learning experiences while strengthening collaboration between the school and families.

“The purpose of the Guest Teacher program is to collaborate with parents, to get into it with parents. Another goal is to encourage children to develop an interest in reading and listening,” Fita said.

Having parents serve as guest teachers also made the learning process more interactive. Students not only listened to the story, but also took part in activities that helped them understand its messages.

The Guest Teacher program is one of the school's efforts to strengthen collaboration with parents in supporting students' learning. It also provides first-grade students with an engaging learning experience during the early stage of their elementary education