Mental health has become a growing concern in society, especially in recent years. The term “healing” has become common. We increasingly hear or read about cases of anxiety disorders, depression, behavioral issues, and more. This raises the question: Is today’s generation more vulnerable to mental health challenges? According to WHO (2022), around 1 in 8 people worldwide experience a mental disorder, with depression and anxiety being the most common. A survey in Jakarta even found that 34% of high school students showed indications of mental health problems, with 23% of them experiencing emotional disorders such as excessive worry and frequent unhappiness (Jiwa Institute, 2024).

The world continues to change, and today’s generation faces greater pressures to perform — from academic demands to global competition. Added to this, social media exposure often intensifies insecurity and self-comparisons. It is becoming increasingly important to ask: How can we teach our children to maintain their mental health so they can grow into resilient, (self-regulated leaders) And how can we, as parents, help prepare them with strong mental resilience?

In response, Redea Institute, which oversees the HighScope Indonesia school network, has invited Rebecca Branstetter, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and Ph.D. graduate from the University of California, Berkeley (USA), to deliver a series of workshops for parents of students ranging from early childhood to high school. Dr. Branstetter is a renowned speaker and national media expert on school and family mental health. She has published 11 books on child development and well-being, including The Everything Parents Guide to Executive Functioning and Small Habits Create Big Changes.

Parents Workshop Series

Session 1 — Wednesday, February 26, 2025
“The ABCs of Managing Emotional Meltdowns and Shutdowns (Yours and Your Child's!)”. 

In this session, Branstetter asked: “Have you ever felt confused dealing with your child’s or even your own emotional reactions?” Through Zoom, parents learned 26 practical strategies to manage emotional outbursts, helping both themselves and their children face emotional moments more smoothly. Together, they practiced strategies to stay calm, de-escalate emotions, and transform emotional moments into learning opportunities.

“Kids don’t know how to deal with their big feelings. So, when you see your child acting out or shutting down, that is a clue for you that they are still in ‘fight or flight’ mode, they’re having a stress reaction. And our job is to not join the chaos, and bring in our calm.” — Rebecca Branstetter, Ph.D.

Session 2 — Tuesday, March 4, 2025
“Parents’ Guide to Boosting Attention and Motivation at Home”

Branstetter shared tips and tricks to help children improve focus and motivation at home by developing executive functioning skills. Parents were also equipped with strategies to foster independence, perseverance, and to turn unproductive habits into positive ones.

“I will give you an executive functioning pro-tip. As parents, lend your frontal lobe to the child, don’t be the child’s frontal lobe. Meaning, you involve them in making decisions, ask them questions, don’t just tell them what to do and make every decision for them.” — Rebecca Branstetter, Ph.D.

Session 3 — Wednesday, March 12, 2025
“Protecting Your Child’s Mental Health and Safety Online”

This session focused on research-based approaches to gain the benefits of screen time while ensuring children’s digital safety and well-being. Branstetter shared ways to set boundaries, recognize warning signs, and have effective conversations that help children stay safe and resilient online.

“Technology is not good or bad. It is a tool and it depends on how you use it. Just like a hammer, we can build something very cool with it. A carpenter can create beautiful things with a hammer, but we wouldn’t leave our toddler with a hammer and just hope everything goes well right?” — Rebecca Branstetter, Ph.D.

Antarina S.F Amir, Founder and CEO of Redea Institute, expressed gratitude to all HighScope Indonesia parents who participated in this parents workshop series:

“We hope the insights shared will strengthen your role in your child’s development. We are excited to continue sharing, learning, and growing together as a community.”