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This study examines the increasing prevalence of premarital sexual behavior among Indonesian adolescents, including Catholic youths, which poses a significant challenge to the moral formation and faith development promoted by the Catholic Church. Using a qualitative method with a literature study approach, this research analyzes the phenomenon of adolescent free sex from the perspective of Catholic moral theology and family pastoral care. The findings reveal that the rise of free sexual behavior among adolescents is strongly influenced by curiosity, fragmented family structures, weak value-based sexual education, and the unregulated use of digital media. Moral theology views sexuality as a divine gift whose authentic meaning is realized only within the sacramental bond of marriage; therefore, premarital sex is considered a deviation from human dignity and the true nature of love. The study also highlights the essential role of the family as the Domestic Church in shaping conscience, character, and responsible sexual attitudes among youths. Pastoral strategies proposed include integral sexual education, strengthening parent–child communication in the digital age, and contextual pastoral accompaniment rooted in compassion, as emphasized in Amoris Laetitia. This research underscores the need for collaborative efforts between families, the Church, and educational institutions to guide young people toward a holistic understanding of sexuality, authentic love, and their Christian vocation in contemporary society.  

Early Childhood Education (PAUD) honorary teachers in West Sumatra face serious welfare challenges, with incomes far below the Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP). This condition affects work motivation, limits access to professional development, and reduces the quality of early childhood education services. This study aims to analyze the current welfare conditions of PAUD honorary teachers, identify the factors contributing to low welfare, and offer strategic solutions involving the government, PAUD institutions, the community, and the teachers themselves. This research employed a literature review method by examining scientific journals, educational department reports, statistical data, government regulations, and supporting theories such as Human Capital and Work Motivation. The findings indicate that low welfare is caused by limited regional government budgets, reliance on parental fees, weak legal status of PAUD teachers, limited certification opportunities, and insufficient CSR and community support. Recommended solutions include increasing government funding, expanding ASN/PPPK recruitment opportunities, strengthening institutional management, collaborating with private sectors, and enhancing teacher competence through continuous training. In conclusion, improving the welfare of PAUD teachers is an urgent step to strengthen the quality of early childhood education services and support the achievement of national education goals from an early age.

This research at TPA Siti Hajar aims to determine the impact of democratic parenting on the creativity of early childhood aged 4-5 years. The study found that 80% of respondents demonstrated good assessment results, while 20% achieved excellent grades. Democratic parenting, observed in this study, plays a significant role in fostering independence and confidence in children. This type of parenting is ideal for educating children, as it promotes responsibility, leadership, independence, and the ability to build healthy interpersonal relationships. Creativity, as defined in the study, is the ability to generate new ideas, solve problems, and produce innovative products. Using a quantitative approach with an experimental method, the research involved 10 out of 15 children from TPA Siti Hajar. Data was collected through observation and interviews. The results showed a significant correlation between democratic parenting and the development of children's creativity. Children exposed to democratic parenting exhibited increased independence and creativity, adapting well to their school environment. The study concludes that democratic parenting significantly influences early childhood creativity, fostering a safe and supportive space for children to thrive. This positive influence encourages independence while maintaining clear, consistent boundaries, which enhances their creative and developmental stages.

First Language Acquisition is a crucial process influenced by various language learning theories. This research aims to comprehensively analyze the application of the main L1 theories, such as Behaviorism, Nativism, and Interactionism, and to thoroughly examine the concept, utility, and identification techniques of students’ prior knowledge within the context of child language acquisition. Employing a critical analytica l literature review method, the findings indicate that L1 Acquisition is not solely explained by one theory but results from the interaction between innate endowment (LAD) and environmental input. A key finding highlights that the identification of prior knowledge, encompassing cognitive, linguistic, and social aspects, is highly functional as a basis for determining appropriate scaffolding and providing comprehensible language input. The most relevant detection techniques involve direct observation and analysis of children’s spontaneous speech.It is concluded that a holistic understanding of L1 theories and the early identification of prior knowledge is essential for educators and parents. This finding has implications for formulating personalized language development strategies, thereby optimizing children’s language potential from an early age.

Early childhood education is an important foundation in character building, because the golden age is a period when physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development occurs very rapidly, requiring planned and continuous stimulation. One effort that can be made is through the implementation of G7KAIH activities, which is a program of seven positive habits designed to instill the values of independence, discipline, cooperation, cleanliness, and responsibility from an early age. This study aims to describe the implementation of G7KAIH as a strategy for character development in early childhood at Sartika Kindergarten. The method used is descriptive qualitative with data collection techniques in the form of semi-structured interviews with teachers directly involved in the program implementation. The results show that G7KAIH has been integrated into daily routines, although it is still in its early stages and does not yet have standard operating procedures. The children's responses varied; some were enthusiastic, but others still needed guidance due to differences in their social-emotional development. The obstacles that arose were related to the children's understanding and the limitations of the implementation guidelines, but these could be overcome through motivation and a variety of activities. Overall, G7KAIH made a positive contribution, especially to the children's independence and discipline.

Children under two years old (Baduta) are vulnerable to nutritional problems due to their rapid growth and development phase. Supplementary feeding (PMT) using locally sourced foods is an effort that can support adequate nutritional intake during this period. This community service activity aimed to increase mothers' knowledge regarding the importance of PMT and the introduction of nutritious local food ingredients that are easily accessible. The activity was conducted in Lawata Village, Kolaka Utara Regency, involving 30 mothers with Baduta. The method used was educational counseling and interactive discussion covering the definition, benefits, timing of supplementary feeding, and examples of local nutritious foods such as fish, eggs, tempeh, legumes, vegetables, and tubers. The results showed an improvement in participants' understanding of appropriate supplementary feeding practices. Mothers also expressed willingness to apply the knowledge gained in daily feeding practices at home. This program is expected to increase family awareness of balanced nutrition and encourage the use of local food sources to support optimal child growth and nutritional status improvement.

The creative Sunday School teaching program at GKSI Imanuel Teretek was implemented as a community service initiative focused on increasing children’s enthusiasm for participating in spiritual activities. The program was motivated by initial findings showing that many children exhibited declining interest due to monotonous learning methods that lacked creative engagement. Therefore, the service team designed a series of activities based on creative approaches, including the use of visual media, educational games, art activities, and interactive storytelling to align learning with the developmental needs of children. The implementation process was carried out through several stages, including observation, material planning, activity execution, and evaluation. The results showed a significant increase in attendance, active participation, and positive responses from the children. They appeared more engaged, more willing to ask questions, and better able to remember biblical messages through enjoyable and easy-to-understand activities. Additionally, Sunday School teachers gained new insights regarding creative teaching strategies that can be applied sustainably. These findings affirm that innovation in teaching methods has a real impact on children’s learning motivation and strengthens the church’s role in nurturing faith from an early age.

This study aims to improve early childhood learning activities by utilizing vacant land as a nature center at Aisyiyah Bustanul Athfal 50 Kindergarten, Surabaya. The underlying problem is the lack of variety in early childhood learning, which tends to be limited to the classroom and the suboptimal use of the surrounding environment as a learning resource. This study used a qualitative approach with the Classroom Action Research (CAR) method, conducted in two cycles. The subjects were 15 children in Group B, characterized by active learning but limited focus on learning and environmental exploration. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, while data validity was tested through triangulation of sources and techniques. The results showed that children's learning activities increased significantly after the implementation of nature-center-based learning. Children became more active, enthusiastic, and were able to interact better with their environment and peers. Activities such as planting, watering, observing insects, and maintaining garden cleanliness provided meaningful and enjoyable learning experiences. In addition, the utilization of vacant land was an effective solution in creating a contextual and child-friendly learning atmosphere. The environment around the school was optimally utilized as a learning medium appropriate to the development of early childhood. This study concluded that the nature center significantly contributed to increasing children's learning activities. Therefore, this nature-based learning model can be recommended as an innovation in early childhood learning for other educational units. 

This article examines the implications of parental verbal violence on the socio-emotional development of early childhood aged 3–6 years. The study was conducted through an extensive literature review supported by general field observations in community settings. The purpose of this research is to describe the phenomenon of verbal violence experienced by young children, analyze its effects on their emotional security, self-confidence, and social adaptation, and identify contributing factors from both the family environment and parental characteristics. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, relevant books, journal articles, and institutional reports were synthesized to construct a comprehensive understanding of how negative communication patterns shape children’s socio-emotional development. The findings indicate that verbal violence such as yelling, scolding, insulting, labeling, and threatening can disrupt children’s emotional regulation, lower their self-esteem, and hinder their ability to interact positively with peers. Repeated exposure to harsh language also increases the risk of anxiety, aggression, and social withdrawal. Conversely, positive, supportive, and empathetic parental communication fosters emotional resilience, empathy, and healthy social behavior. This article highlights the urgent need for parents, educators, and communities to strengthen awareness regarding the harmful impact of verbal violence and to promote nurturing communication practices that support the holistic development of young children.

This study aims to describe the implementation of the art center approach in increasing early childhood creativity in Integrative Holistic Early Childhood Education. The art center approach is one of the child-centered learning strategies, by providing freedom of expression through art activities such as drawing, painting, dancing, and playing music. This study uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. The research subjects consist of teachers and children aged 4–6 years in Integrative Holistic Early Childhood Education. Data was collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, then analyzed with stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawn. The results of the study show that the implementation of the art center approach in Integrative Holistic PAUD is able to foster aspects of children's creativity, including the ability to imagine, experiment with art media, and express ideas originally. In addition, the role of teachers as facilitators is very important in providing stimulation, a supportive environment, and appreciation of children's work. In conclusion, the art center approach is effective in developing early childhood creativity if applied consistently, with the support of facilities, media, and mentoring that are appropriate to the stage of child development.

Bullying cases among elementary school students have become increasingly alarming because they negatively impact children’s psychological, social, and moral development, making early intervention essential. This community service project was designed to strengthen students’ understanding and character formation as a preventive effort against bullying behavior. The program was carried out at SD Wonolelo, a rural elementary school, involving 18 sixth-grade students and one accompanying teacher who participated actively in each session. The methods used consisted of interactive socialization and role-playing activities implemented through three stages: delivery of material, interactive question-and-answer discussion, and final evaluation. The results show a significant increase in students’ comprehension of bullying, rising from 30% before the activity to 90% afterward, indicating the program’s strong impact on learning. Beyond improved understanding, the initiative successfully cultivated empathy, cooperation, and social awareness among students so that they not only refrain from bullying but also feel responsible for preventing it within their environment. Overall, the program proved effective in promoting anti-bullying awareness, shaping positive character traits, and supporting the development of a safer and more inclusive culture at the elementary school level.

This study aims to analyze the influence of parental roles on fulfilling the nutritional needs of children aged 3–4 years at the Asmaul Husna Daycare (TPA) in Gorontalo. The study used a quantitative design with a cross-sectional approach and involved 60 parents as respondents. The role of parents was measured through their active involvement as educators, motivators, and facilitators in fulfilling children's nutritional needs. The results showed that 80% of children whose parents played an active role had good nutritional status based on normal weight for age and height for age indicators. Conversely, in the group of less active parents, only 36% of children achieved good nutritional status. The Chi-square test showed a significant relationship between parental roles and children's nutritional status (p < 0.05). The table data shows a clear disparity, with 32 well-nourished children coming from the active role group, while 14 children with poor nutritional status came from the passive role group. These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring dietary patterns, providing nutritious supplies, and collaboration between parents and the TPA in reducing the risk of malnutrition and stunting. Furthermore, parental involvement contributes to improved immunity, cognitive development, and the formation of long-term healthy eating habits. This study recommends holding nutrition workshops for parents as part of a sustainable TPA program.

This study examines the impact of government policies on the distribution and quality of Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers in Indonesia, as a crucial component in efforts to improve the quality of education services during the golden age. Governmment policies such as the Minister of Education and Culture Regulation No. 137 of 2014 concerning National PAUD Standards, tiered training, teacher certification, Teacher Professional Education (PPG), and the Teacher Mover program have significantly contributed to improving educator competency. However, the implementation of these policies still faces various obstacles, particularly related to the unequal distribution of educators between urban and 3T areas, limited access to education, and the low welfare of non-civil servant teachers. The study results indicate that government policies have increased teacher awareness of the importance of academic qualifications and professional competencies, but the impact on equity has not been optimal due to geographical factors and unequal regional support. This analysis emphasizes the need to strengthen the data-based teacher needs mapping system, improve ongoing training programs, and provide more appropriate welfare support for PAUD teachers. Therefore, collaboration between the central government, regional governments, professional organizations, and the community is key to ensuring the distribution of educators and improving the quality of PAUD services nationally. This study is expected to serve as a reference in developing more effective and equitable policies for PAUD educators in Indonesia.

Dancing as an outdoor activity significantly impacts the social and emotional skills of young children. They learn to express their emotions, work together in groups, and increase their self-confidence and empathy through dance activities. Several studies have shown that participating in dance activities can also help children manage their emotions, enhance social interactions, and improve their communication skills. Developmentally appropriate dance programs can positively impact their social and emotional development. Early children's ability to manage their own emotions is part of their emotional developmental maturation during the transition from the preoperational to the concrete operational stage. Early children's ability to manage their emotions is part of their emotional developmental maturation during the transition from the preoperational to the concrete operational stage. The ability to manage their own emotions can be seen in their ability to utilize their emotions positively, regulate their emotions according to their circumstances, and appropriately protect themselves from experiencing unhealthy emotions.

Parents act as early educators entrusted with guiding, nurturing, and caring for their children. Their influence is crucial from the outset, as they substantially shape their children's character and disposition. The way parents parent their children can significantly enhance their overall development, as their methods significantly influence their children's social and emotional maturity. To foster healthy maturation and ensure their children's social integration, parents need to thoroughly understand the intricacies of their children's social and emotional development. Parents are the first teachers responsible for teaching, nurturing, and raising their children. Parental involvement is crucial. This study aims to examine the significance of parenting strategies employed by mothers and fathers and the extent to which these strategies shape their children's social and emotional development. The results of this study identified three distinct categories of parenting tactics commonly employed by mothers and fathers in raising their children: indulgent, dictatorial, and collaborative. Each of these parenting approaches exerts a unique influence on children's social and emotional maturation. The main difference lies in the observation that dictatorial and indulgent parenting approaches typically produce less beneficial results than collaborative parenting approaches, which typically produce more beneficial results. Therefore, it is recommended that mothers and fathers adopt a collaborative parenting approach when raising their children.

Democracy is not only understood as a political system and state institutional mechanisms, but also as a value and culture of life that must be instilled from an early age. This article aims to examine the role of the family as the primary informal educational institution in developing a civilized democratic character in children. Through a literature review and descriptive-qualitative analysis, this article examines the concept of family-based democratic education, referring to theories of social and moral development and the dynamics of Indonesian democracy over time. The study's findings indicate that families play a strategic role in instilling democratic values ​​such as justice, responsibility, tolerance, deliberation, and respect for differences through daily practices, including open dialogue, parental moral role models, the division of tasks and responsibilities, and children's involvement in family decision-making. Empirical findings from a case study in Yogyakarta confirm that children raised in democratic families have better social, emotional, and political awareness skills. Family-based democratic education has been shown not only to shape children's behavior within the home environment but also to prepare them to become critical, ethical citizens capable of constructive participation in society and the nation. Thus, the family is the primary and irreplaceable foundation for building a civilized and sustainable democracy.

Background: Adolescence is a crucial stage of human development, during which adequate and balanced nutrition plays an important role in supporting growth and maintaining long-term health. At this age, eating habits begin to form, yet many adolescents tend to choose fast food, which generally has low nutritional value. Such foods are typically high in fat, sugar, and salt, but low in fiber from fruits and vegetables, potentially affecting their nutritional status. This study aims to examine the relationship between the frequency of Junk Food consumption and fiber intake with the nutritional status of students at SMP Negeri 9 Palu. This research employed an analytical quantitative approach using a cross-sectional design, involving a population of 97 students. Data were collected through the SQ-FFQ questionnaire to assess Junk Food consumption, 3×24-hour dietary recalls to measure fiber intake, and anthropometric measurements to determine nutritional status. Data analysis was conducted using the chi-square test. The results indicated a significant relationship between Junk Food consumption and nutritional status (p < 0.05). In contrast, fiber intake showed no meaningful association (p > 0.05), possibly because most respondents had similarly low fiber intake, resulting in insufficient variation to influence nutritional status. Other factors such as total energy intake, physical activity, and sleep patterns may also contribute to adolescents’ nutritional conditions. These findings highlight the importance of nutrition education in schools and the role of parents in monitoring adolescents’ eating habits. Further research with a larger sample size and more detailed dietary assessment methods is recommended to obtain more comprehensive results.  

The digital era brings great opportunities for improving the quality of learning, but it also presents challenges in the form of dependence on gadgets, reduced social interaction, and the risk of exposure to age-inappropriate content. This study uses a qualitative descriptive approach based on a literature review by analyzing various theoretical sources and previous research findings. The results of the study show that educators need to implement learning strategies that balance digital and non-digital activities so that all aspects of children's development cognitive, language, motor, socio-emotional, and moral can be optimally stimulated. Effective strategies include play-based learning, project-based learning, integration of educational digital media, collaboration with parents, and the creation of a learning environment rich in stimulation. By applying these strategies, children not only develop intellectually but also build character, creativity, and social skills. The key. Improving educators' digital literacy and active supervision from parents are the keys to the success of adaptive and humanistic early childhood education in the digital era.

This study aims to describe the religious habituation strategies implemented at PAUD Adz-Dzikra in developing religious and moral values among children aged 5–6 years, as well as to analyze the behavioral changes resulting from these practices. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, the research involved 50 children and 4 teachers. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, and were analyzed using data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that the habituation activities—such as Iqra reading practice, short surah memorization, Dhuha prayer, and the Friday Cleaning program—significantly contributed to the development of children’s religious and moral values. Children not only recognized basic religious teachings but were also able to apply them in real actions, including reading hijaiyah letters, performing simple worship, demonstrating politeness, honesty, helpfulness, and maintaining personal and environmental cleanliness. The religious habituation strategies applied at PAUD Adz-Dzikra proved effective in internalizing religious and moral values in accordance with the indicators of the Early Childhood Development Achievement Standards (STPPA) stated in the Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation No. 137 of 2014. This study confirms that consistent habituation is a fundamental approach to developing religious character in early childhood.

Early Childhood Education (PAUD) plays a fundamental role in shaping children's character, moral values, and intellectual potential from an early age. However, many PAUD institutions in Indonesia still face serious challenges in management, where attention is focused more on operational sustainability than on improving educational quality. This study aims to describe the actual condition of PAUD institutions, analyze the causes of weak management, and identify the impact of operational orientation on educational quality. The method used is a literature study through analysis of various sources such as books, scientific journals, research reports, and government policies related to PAUD implementation. The results of the study indicate that weak management is caused by limited human resources, low managerial competence, minimal funding, weak planning, and a lack of supervision and community support. The impact is seen in the decline in educational quality and low public trust in PAUD institutions. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen quality-based management that emphasizes improving educator competence, community involvement, effective management of infrastructure, utilization of educational technology, and implementation of continuous evaluation. Professional and adaptive PAUD management is key to realizing superior, high-quality institutions that are relevant to the developmental needs of early childhood in the modern era.