Decolonizing Smart Parenting: The Philosophy of Nurturing and Caring for Gen-Z in the VUCA Era

Abstract

Ki Hadjar Dewantara's philosophy of asah-asih-asuh (guide, love, nurture) is increasingly marginalised by imported smart parenting discourse that is not always relevant to Javanese culture, while Generation Z is growing up in the VUCA era amid complex psychological pressures. Previous research on ngemong (nurturing) has proven the importance of these three dimensions in building children's trust, but has not yet examined their transformation in the current context. This qualitative case study involved 15 Javanese parents in Yogyakarta and Surakarta who have Generation Z children, selected purposively. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation, analyzed using Miles and Huberman's interactive model with indigenous sensitivity. The findings show that asah-asih-asuh has been creatively transformed in Gen-Z parenting, influenced by technological disruption, shifting values, VUCA economic pressures, community support, and philosophical understanding. The implications include cognitive-affective balance, cultural resilience, the restoration of intergenerational relationships, and contributions to the decolonisation of knowledge. This study recommends developing a local wisdom-based parenting model within family education policy.

Filosofi asah-asih-asuh Ki Hadjar Dewantara semakin terpinggirkan oleh wacana smart parenting impor yang tidak selalu relevan dengan budaya Jawa, sementara Generasi Z tumbuh di era VUCA dengan tekanan psikologis kompleks. Penelitian terdahulu tentang ngemong membuktikan pentingnya ketiga dimensi ini dalam membangun kepercayaan anak, namun belum mengkaji transformasinya dalam konteks kekinian. Penelitian kualitatif studi kasus ini melibatkan 15 orang tua Jawa di Yogyakarta dan Surakarta yang memiliki anak Generasi Z, dipilih secara purposif. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi partisipan, dan dokumentasi, dianalisis menggunakan model interaktif Miles dan Huberman dengan sensitivitas indigenous. Temuan menunjukkan asah-asih-asuh bertransformasi secara kreatif dalam pengasuhan Gen-Z, dipengaruhi disrupsi teknologi, pergeseran nilai, tekanan ekonomi VUCA, dukungan komunitas, dan pemahaman filosofi. Implikasinya meliputi keseimbangan kognitif-afektif, resiliensi kultural, pemulihan relasi antargenerasi, dan kontribusi pada dekolonisasi pengetahuan. Penelitian ini merekomendasikan pengembangan model parenting berbasis kearifan lokal dalam kebijakan pendidikan keluarga.