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The Islamic Literacy Program to Foster Religious Character in Early Childhood is a community service initiative aimed at instilling Islamic values through engaging and meaningful literacy activities. The program was conducted for two weeks in Timbang Langkat Village, Binjai Timur District, involving early childhood learners, PAUD teachers, and parents. This study employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach consisting of planning, action, observation, and reflection stages. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, then analyzed descriptively using the Miles and Huberman interactive model. The findings showed a 31% average increase in children’s religious character aspects, including faith, discipline, honesty, responsibility, and social attitude. Furthermore, teacher and parent involvement played a crucial role in strengthening the internalization of religious values through enjoyable literacy activities such as storytelling of prophets, writing Arabic letters, and Islamic role-playing. The implications indicate that Islamic literacy effectively fosters religious character development in early childhood in a contextual and sustainable manner and can serve as a model for other PAUD institutions in developing Islamic character education programs.

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. 

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 communication skills on the self-confidence of kindergarten children using a quantitative approach. The background of this research is rooted in the essential role of effective parental communication in shaping the psychosocial development of children, particularly in fostering self-confidence, which is crucial for children's social and academic success. The research sample consisted of parents and kindergarten children selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires designed to measure parental communication patterns and children's levels of self-confidence. Data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics, including simple linear regression to examine the relationship and effect of parental communication skills on children's self-confidence. The results reveal that positive, supportive communication skills characterized by democratic communication patterns have a significant positive effect on increasing children's self-confidence. Effective and empathetic communication creates a conducive environment for children to express themselves, boosting their self-esteem and social-emotional potential. The study concludes that enhancing parental communication skills is a vital strategy for family guidance and early childhood education to optimally support the development of children's self-confidence.

Moral education is the core of Islamic teachings that emphasize the formation of noble character in human relationships with Allah SWT and with others. The phenomenon of moral deterioration that occurs in society, such as promiscuity, juvenile criminality, violence, and the loss of manners towards parents and teachers, shows the urgency of systematic moral education. This research aims to examine the content and content of the book Akhlak Lil Banin by Sheikh Umar bin Ahmad Baraja' and the strategy of the moral education concept contained in it. The research method used is a literature study with a qualitative-descriptive approach through content analysis. The results of the study show that Lil Banin's book of Morals contains fundamental moral values, including ethics with parents, manners with teachers, speaking ethics, honesty and trust, responsibility, and manners of eating and drinking. The moral education strategy in this book includes moral development towards Allah SWT, oneself, parents, teachers, fellow humans, the environment, and in all life circumstances. Thus, Lil Banin's book of Morals is not only a moral guideline for children and adolescents, but also relevant as a reference for character education in the modern era that is full of moral challenges.

Bullying remains a serious issue in elementary school environments that has negative impacts on children’s mental health, social relationships, as well as emotional and character development. Recognizing the importance of early prevention efforts, students of the Community Service Program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata/KKN) from Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP) initiated and implemented an anti-bullying outreach program for children in Nagari Harau. This program aims to increase children’s awareness, understanding, and sensitivity toward various forms of bullying, including physical, verbal, and non-verbal bullying, as well as to introduce the impacts caused and simple strategies to deal with and prevent such behavior. The outreach activities were carried out using participatory and interactive methods to ensure the material was easily understood by children, supported by PowerPoint presentations, educational quizzes, light discussions, and simulations of everyday situations relevant to their lives. The target participants were elementary school students in the Nagari Harau area who are vulnerable to bullying practices in school and social settings. The evaluation results showed a significant improvement in participants’ understanding of bullying, where only about 30% of participants understood the material before the activity, increasing to 85% after the program was implemented. Positive responses from children, teachers, and the local community emphasize the importance of this program as an effective form of social intervention. This program demonstrates that child-friendly educational approaches can contribute to creating a safer, more comfortable, and bullying-free learning environment.

This study aims to analyze the relationship between authoritarian parenting and early childhood creativity. Creativity is an important aspect of child development because it plays a role in shaping the ability to think, solve problems, and express ideas freely. However, the process of creativity development is often influenced by parenting styles at home. Authoritarian parenting is known as a parenting style that tends to be rigid, full of control, and demands obedience without providing space for children to express their opinions. This study used a quantitative approach with a correlational design involving children aged 4–6 years and their parents. Data were obtained through parenting questionnaires and observations of children's creativity. The results showed a negative relationship between authoritarian parenting and creativity. The higher the level of authoritarianism applied, the lower the child's creativity. This finding emphasizes the importance of more open parenting for optimal development of children's creativity.

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.

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.

This study aims to analyze the change in word choice in Indonesian children's songs from the classical to modern times as a reflection of the shift in the social environment in the digital era. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with a content analysis method on eight children's songs, consisting of four classic songs by A. T. Mahmud and four popular modern songs on digital platforms such as YouTube. The results showed that classical songs highlight concrete and local vocabulary that describe children's closeness to nature, family, and moral values, while modern songs are dominated by global, repetitive, and phonetic vocabulary that reflect the influence of globalization and the digital lifestyle of today's children. In addition, modern songs tend to contain simple expressions that are easy to remember, but have minimal educational value compared to classical songs that are more loaded with moral messages. This shift shows that the language in children's songs not only serves as a medium of entertainment, but also reflects the changing social and cultural values of Indonesian society. Therefore, the study of children's song language is important to understand the dynamics of popular cultural development that affects the process of character formation of the younger generation.

Early childhood development assessment is an important process in obtaining a comprehensive picture of a child's growth and development as a basis for planning learning that is appropriate to the child's needs and characteristics. One of the most relevant assessment techniques for early childhood characteristics is observation, because it is carried out naturally through play and learning activities without putting pressure on the child. This article aims to examine the use of observation instruments as a basis for assessing early childhood development and to provide guidance to early childhood educators in conducting appropriate, systematic, and accountable assessments. The method used in this article is a theoretical study that examines the concept of early childhood assessment, assessment principles, and the process of conducting assessments through observation. The observation instruments discussed include daily records, anecdotal records, and children's work records. The results of the study show that the optimal use of observation instruments can help teachers understand children's development holistically, detect children's special needs, and serve as a basis for decision-making in learning planning and curriculum development. Thus, observation instruments play a strategic role in supporting the assessment process of early childhood development to be more meaningful and oriented towards children's needs.

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 nature of children from an Islamic educational perspective. This study uses a library research method by examining various relevant literature, including classical texts, the Qur'an, hadiths, and contemporary scientific works that discuss the concept of children in Islam. The results of the study indicate that children, from an Islamic perspective, have a very noble and strategic position, encompassing six main aspects. First, children are seen as a trust from Allah SWT. Second, children are a potential that needs to be developed. Third, children function as the next generation and bearers of the future of the community. Fourth, children have the right to receive a good and proper education. Fifth, children are positioned as subjects who have rights and roles in social life, not just objects of education. Sixth, children are also a source of happiness and well-being for their families and their surroundings. In the context of Islamic education, there are several methods that can be applied to educate children, including the method of role model, reward and punishment, the story method, and the advice method. These four methods play an important role in shaping children's character, faith, and morals in accordance with Islamic values. Understanding the nature of children in Islamic education is the main basis for building a generation that is faithful, has noble morals, and is responsible for themselves, their families, and society.

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.

This study aims to examine the contribution of educational psychology in the context of Christian education, particularly for educators, school principals, Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers, Sunday school teachers, pastors, elders, and church servants. This theoretical study shows that educational psychology helps in understanding the characteristics of learners, optimizing teaching methods, building effective teacher-student relationships, and enhancing motivation and involvement in the learning and preaching process. The research method used is a descriptive qualitative approach, collecting data through a review of books, literature, journals, notes, and relevant reports. Educational psychology plays a significant role for all those involved in Christian education and ministry. CRE teachers and Sunday school teachers have a crucial role in instilling faith values in the younger generation by understanding the learning needs of children according to their cognitive and spiritual development stages. This enables them to deliver God's word in an engaging and meaningful way. Meanwhile, pastors, elders, and church servants require an understanding of educational psychology to carry out more wise pastoral ministry. Psychological understanding helps them provide spiritual guidance, counseling, and support for members who are struggling. Educational psychology also equips church servants to lead with empathy, listen with their hearts, and guide the congregation towards true spiritual restoration. The integration of educational psychology with Christian faith significantly impacts the improvement of learning and church ministry, producing individuals who are intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually balanced.

This study is motivated by the declining interest of children in traditional games due to the rapid development of digital technology. Traditional games, however, hold great potential as a medium for character education, particularly in fostering values of cooperation, responsibility, and social interaction. The purpose of this study is to analyze the character value of cooperation that emerges through the implementation of traditional games among students and to evaluate its effectiveness in enhancing social interaction within the school environment. The study employs a descriptive quantitative approach involving 23 students from SMPK Santo Don Bosco Lewoleba. Data were collected using a Likert-scale questionnaire comprising five indicators of cooperation: active participation, polite communication, care and support, acceptance of decisions, and responsibility and honesty. Data analysis was conducted by calculating the mean score for each indicator and converting it into qualitative categories. The findings reveal that the implementation of traditional games develops students’ cooperation values at a very good level, with an average score of 3.55. This indicates that traditional games contribute positively to students’ character formation, particularly in fostering teamwork, respect for peers, and harmonious social relationships. The study implies that traditional games can serve as an effective and enjoyable contextual learning medium to strengthen character education in primary and secondary schools.

Early Childhood Education is a fundamental phase in the formation of a child's character and basic skills. This period, known as the golden age, is crucial for providing appropriate stimulation so that all aspects of a child's development can develop optimally. The limited learning resources at the Bajo Sayang Early Childhood Education on Boleng Island, West Manggarai Regency, drove the need for innovative, simple yet meaningful learning media. This community service activity aims to implement interactive storytelling as a learning medium that can stimulate the cognitive and social-emotional aspects of early childhood. The implementation method used a participatory and interactive approach, where children are actively involved through questions and answers, emotional expression, and supporting activities such as singing and dancing. The results of the activity indicate that the interactive storytelling method can improve children's concentration and courage in expressing opinions. Furthermore, children also demonstrate a better understanding of basic emotions such as happiness, sadness, and anger, as well as increased empathy for the story characters.