The Islamic Psychology Study Group (Kelompok Kajian Psikologi Islam/KKPI) of the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the Indonesian Family Advocacy Institute (Lembaga Advokasi Keluarga Indonesia/LAKI), held a Parenting Principles Workshop on July 19, 2025, in room D-303 of the Faculty of Psychology UGM, from 09.00 to 16.00 WIB. The workshop was led by Dr. Bagus Riyono, M.A., Psychologist, a lecturer at UGM and author of the book “4 Prinsip Parenting” (“The 4 Parenting Principles”). A pre-workshop was held online via YouTube from July 12–18. The main workshop was attended by 23 offline participants and 20 online participants.
The workshop was initiated in response to the widespread adoption of psychological theories—many of which remain contested—that are often taken up and applied by the public. When these theories are adopted without adequate understanding, they can create new problems and lead to increased confusion among parents about their children’s behavior. This workshop focused on fundamental and essential parenting principles, rather than superficial tips, enabling parents to apply them across various family contexts and child conditions.
The workshop emphasized four core parenting principles: reminding, truth, compassion, and patience.
The pre-workshop sessions focused on self-awareness and understanding one’s partner as foundational elements for effective parenting. The first session was titled “Journey Into the Self: Efforts to Embrace and Know Oneself”, and the second was “Walking Hand in Hand: Efforts to Build Synergy with One’s Partner”.
This workshop aims to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly: Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, by promoting family mental health through compassionate and empathetic parenting practices; Goal 4: Quality Education, by providing parenting education that empowers parents to become their children’s first and best teachers.
One participant shared their reflection:
“After attending the workshop, I realized the importance of building a warm and empathetic relationship with my child. Emotional connection must come first before correction. Parenting is not about control, but about guiding with love and consistency.”
Acknowledgment
This Parenting Principles Workshop was supported by the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada through the 2025 Community Service Grant Program, with grant number 4064/UN1/PS/SD/PM.01.03/2025.
Writer: Lu’luul Jannah, S.Psi.