PERAN ORANG TUA DALAM PEMBIASAAN SOFT SPOKEN ANAK di ERA DIGITAL

Abstract

The  development  of  information  and  communication  technology  over  the  past  two decades has brought significant changes to children’s social interaction patterns, particularly for elementary school-aged children. Today, children grow up in digital environments saturated with social media, online games, and instant communication platforms, which influence their language style, emotional expression, and social behavior.  This study  aims to  describe  the  role  of  parents in fostering  soft  spoken communication, identify the strategies implemented, analyze challenges in the digital era, and formulate solutions to strengthen the consistency of family communication. The study employed a field research method with a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation involving primary informants parents of students and supporting informants, including teachers and students at SD Jeruk 1. Data analysis was conducted systematically through data reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that soft spoken communication reflects politeness, self-control, empathy, and respect for interlocutors,  embodying  children’s emotional maturity and internalization of polite values. Parents play a central role through modeling, habituating manners, positive reinforcement, developing emotional intelligence, and managing family digital literacy. These strategies include monitoring gadget usage, actively guiding children’s digital media consumption, and instilling daily polite language habits. The digital era presents challenges such  as exposure to  aggressive communication,  limited interaction,  and technoference, yet these can be leveraged educationally if properly managed. In conclusion,   the   development   of   a   soft   spoken   character   in   children   is   a multidimensional process involving linguistic, psychological, social, and digital aspects in an integrated manner. Families, especially parents, serve as the primary foundation, while schools reinforce values through synergistic partnerships, enabling children to consistently practice polite communication in the digital era.