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Early Childhood Education (PAUD) is a stage of education that plays a crucial role in maximizing children's cognitive, social-emotional, motor skills, and creativity growth at their peak developmental stage. Children aged three to six learn efficiently through play, hands-on exploration, and interaction with their surroundings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of loose parts media based on natural materials as a means to stimulate creativity in early childhood at PAUD Pelita Mandiri Kertek. This study adopted a descriptive qualitative approach and utilized data collection techniques such as observation, in-depth interviews with teachers, and documentation of children's work. The main focus of this study was on the use of various natural materials, such as corn cobs, twigs, pebbles, and leaves, in play and learning activities. The results showed that loose parts media using natural materials can enhance children's creativity by improving problem-solving skills, strengthening verbal skills in expressing ideas and telling stories about their work, and supporting independent learning because children are actively involved in the educational process. The open-ended nature of the materials allows children to explore and express their ideas freely, thus creating a learning atmosphere full of creativity, innovation, and fun. The implications of this research indicate that the use of loose parts media based on natural materials can be an alternative learning method that is not only effective, but also economical and easy to implement to support the development of children's creativity, independence, and thinking skills, in line with the principles of child-centered learning.

Background: Stunting remains one of the public health problems that requires early prevention through health education and growth monitoring in children under five years old. Lack of parental knowledge regarding balanced nutrition, child feeding practices, hygiene, and routine physical examination can increase the risk of growth disorders in toddlers. Purpose: Physical examination in toddlers is important to identify early signs of growth and developmental problems, including body weight, height or length, nutritional status, and general physical condition. Method: This community service activity was conducted face-to-face using health education, discussion, and direct physical examination methods. The stages of activity included preparation, delivery of educational materials about stunting, physical examination of toddlers, recording the results, and providing simple counseling to parents. Results: The activity showed that mothers were enthusiastic in participating in counseling and toddler physical examination. Before the education was given, several mothers still had limited understanding about the causes, impacts, and prevention of stunting. After the activity, mothers began to understand the importance of balanced nutrition, routine weighing, height measurement, immunization, hygiene, and regular visits to posyandu or health facilities. Conclusion: Education about stunting and physical examination of toddlers can increase parental awareness regarding early prevention of growth disorders. This activity is useful in encouraging families to monitor toddler growth regularly and implement healthy childcare practices.

Cognitive development is an important aspect of early childhood growth because it forms the foundation for children’s abilities to think, remember, understand concepts, solve problems, and make decisions. Early childhood is often referred to as the golden age since development occurs very rapidly during this period, requiring appropriate stimulation from the surrounding environment, particularly the family. In this context, parents play a crucial role through the parenting styles they apply in daily life. This study aims to examine the relationship between parenting styles and early childhood cognitive development based on findings from previous research. The method used is a narrative review by analyzing relevant scholarly articles published between 2020 and 2026. Articles that met the inclusion criteria were then analyzed descriptively to identify the relationship between parenting styles and children’s cognitive development. The results of the review of 15 selected articles indicate that there is a significant relationship between parenting styles and early childhood cognitive development. Authoritative parenting emerged as the most consistently positive style, characterized by effective communication, emotional support, balanced supervision, and opportunities for children to develop independent thinking skills. Other factors, such as parents’ educational level, involvement in children’s learning activities, and a supportive learning environment, also contribute to cognitive development. In conclusion, authoritative parenting is considered the most effective approach in supporting optimal cognitive development in early childhood.

This study aims to map the trajectory of syntactic acquisition in three-year-old children through syntactic patterns and communicative functions in naturalistic interaction. Using a mixed-methods approach, data from native Indonesian-speaking children were collected over a period of 1.5 months through the involve-conversation technique. Analysis of 80 utterances using frequency distribution, Mean Length of Utterance (MLU), and functional grammar revealed a dominant Subject–Verb–Object (S–V–O) structure (30%) and an MLU of 5.82 morphemes. These findings indicate a developmental transition from telegraphic speech to early multi-clause constructions, reflecting increasing linguistic complexity. Cognitive compensation is marked by the use of pragmatic particles and non-canonical sentence patterns driven by ideational, interpersonal, and textual functions. The results support the usage-based hypothesis, suggesting that early syntactic development is functional, sequential, and non-linear in nature. Furthermore, the study highlights the role of interactional experience in shaping emerging grammatical competence. This classification serves as a micro-longitudinal assessment tool and provides a pedagogical basis for scaffolding interventions aimed at stabilizing complex linguistic patterns and enhancing language development in early childhood education settings.

This study discusses inclusive education in Early Childhood Education from the perspective of Mel Ainscow. Inclusive education is an educational approach that provides equal learning opportunities for all children without discrimination, including those with diverse learning needs. The purpose of this study is to describe the concept of inclusive education according to Mel Ainscow and to analyze its implementation in the development of early childhood education. This research employs a qualitative approach using library research methods. The data were collected from various written sources, including books, scientific journals, research articles, and documents related to inclusive education and early childhood education. Documentation techniques were used for data collection, while the data were analyzed through content analysis. The findings reveal that according to Mel Ainscow, inclusive education is a continuous process aimed at increasing the participation of all learners and reducing barriers to learning within educational environments. In the context of early childhood education, inclusive education can be implemented through flexible learning methods, child-friendly learning environments, and active collaboration between teachers and parents in supporting children’s development. The implementation of inclusive education also contributes positively to children’s social and emotional development, as they learn to respect diversity from an early age. However, several challenges remain, including limited facilities, insufficient teacher competence, and a lack of public understanding regarding inclusive education. Therefore, collaboration among schools, families, and the government is necessary to create an inclusive, equitable, and diversity-respecting early childhood education system.

Communication is an important aspect in the development of children aged 5–6 years, especially in supporting their language and social-emotional abilities. This study aims to analyze the influence of effective communication through a play approach in early childhood based on the results of previous research. The method used in this study is a quantitative method by conducting observations, research, and observations on effective communication and a play approach in early childhood education. Data collection techniques were carried out through documentation and literature searches from journals, articles, and relevant scientific references. Data analysis techniques used quantitative descriptive analysis by comparing and summarizing the results of previous research. The results show that the play approach has a significant influence on improving children's effective communication skills, such as the courage to speak, the ability to express opinions, social interaction, cooperation, and self-confidence. In addition, play activities have been proven to be able to create a fun learning atmosphere so that children are more active in interacting with peers and teachers. Thus, the play approach can be an effective strategy in developing the communication skills of children aged 5–6 years.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a condition of insufficient iron that lowers hemoglobin levels and disrupts erythrocyte formation. This condition commonly occurs in children and can weaken the immune system, thereby increasing the risk of recurrent respiratory tract infections such as bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTI). Children with IDA are also at risk of worsening clinical conditions. This study employed a literature review method with a descriptive-analytical approach. A total of 10 journals (2020–2026) from Google Scholar, PubMed, ResearchGate, Elsevier, and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) were analyzed using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study Design (PICOS) framework and synthesized narratively. The results of the review indicate that iron deficiency anemia is significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrent respiratory tract infections in children. Children with IDA have a 2–5 times higher risk of developing bronchiolitis and pneumonia, and up to 10 times greater susceptibility to recurrent ARTI. This condition is also associated with increased disease severity, characterized by low hemoglobin levels, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and serum iron, as well as elevated total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). Iron supplementation has been proven effective in reducing the incidence of recurrent infections. In conclusion, iron deficiency anemia is associated with an increased risk and severity of recurrent respiratory tract infections in children. Early detection and iron supplementation are essential to reduce morbidity and prevent infection recurrence.

Various floods in Jayapura City in early 2025 have caused a number of losses. The problem of the impact of this flood can be solved by reducing the occurrence of flooding again, especially in the long term through the formation of children's character who care about the environment. Activities to increase environmental awareness were carried out by planting flowers focused on children studying at the Rumbel Pelita located at Kali Sunyi, Polda Bhayangkara Public Housing Complex, Buper Waena. The purpose of this community service activity was to increase children's awareness of the surrounding environment through flower planting. The problem posed was how to change children's behavior to care about the environment to prevent flooding. The solution was to increase children's awareness through flower planting at the Kali Sunyi location, Polda Bhayangkara, Buper Waena, Heram District. The method used was through counseling, question and answer sessions, and flower planting activities accompanied by their care. This care was carried out primarily during the learning process at the Rumbel that took place in the future after the community service activity. The results of this community service have been carried out by planting approximately 165 flowers at the Rumbel location, planted by 50 children.

The development of digital technology has brought about significant changes in various aspects of life, including early childhood faith education. Today’s children are growing up in an environment familiar with digital media, making it necessary to adopt a catechetical approach that keeps pace with the times. This article aims to examine the use of digital catechesis as a tool for early childhood faith education. This study employs a qualitative method with a literature review approach, gathering data from books, scientific journals, research articles, Church documents, and other relevant sources. The data is analyzed using descriptive-qualitative methods to understand the benefits, challenges, and role of digital catechesis in fostering children’s faith. Research findings indicate that digital catechesis can serve as an effective, engaging, and interactive medium for helping children learn about the teachings of the faith from an early age. The use of animated videos, religious songs, educational images, and learning apps can enhance children’s interest in learning, attention, and understanding of Catholic faith values. Furthermore, digital catechesis also assists the Church, families, and schools in providing faith education that is more contextual and aligned with the world of today’s children. However, the use of digital media still requires the guidance of parents, teachers, and faith mentors so that children receive proper direction and are protected from the negative impacts of technology. Thus, digital catechesis is a relevant tool in the faith education of young children when used wisely and purposefully. The presence of digital media does not replace the role of faith educators but serves as a tool that enriches the process of proclaiming the faith in the modern era.

Sleep duration and sleep quality are essential physiological needs that play a significant role in the emotional and behavioral development of children aged 3–6 years. Adequate sleep supports brain development, cognitive functioning, emotional regulation, and social interaction skills in early childhood. Conversely, poor sleep duration and low sleep quality may negatively affect children’s attention, mood stability, and ability to interact socially with peers and caregivers. This article is a literature review using a systematic review approach that analyzes 10 scientific articles published between 2016–2026 to evaluate the relationship between sleep duration and sleep quality with emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children. The article selection process followed the PRISMA flow diagram, with articles sourced from Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases. The findings consistently indicate that inadequate sleep duration and poor sleep quality are associated with increased emotional and behavioral problems, including hyperactivity, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and difficulties in social interaction among children. Furthermore, sleep disturbances were found to negatively influence children’s emotional self-regulation abilities, which are crucial for adaptive behavior. Therefore, ensuring adequate sleep duration and improving sleep quality are important strategies to support optimal emotional and behavioral development in preschool-aged children.

This study aims to analyze the relevance of Robert Raikes' Christian educational thinking to the character formation of children in contemporary Sunday School services. This study uses a qualitative approach with a library research method. Data were obtained from various literature sources such as books, scientific journals, and research articles related to Christian education, character education, and the history of Sunday School development. Data analysis techniques were carried out through the stages of data reduction, grouping themes, interpretation, and drawing conclusions using descriptive qualitative methods. The results show that Robert Raikes' thoughts remain relevant in modern Christian education, especially in the formation of children's character through the teaching of God's Word, discipline, role models, and the instilling of Christian values. Sunday School plays an important role as a means of fostering faith, morality, and social responsibility in children from an early age. In addition, the challenges of the digital era require churches to develop more creative, interactive, and contextual learning methods without abandoning the basic values ​​of the Christian faith. This study confirms that the success of children's character formation depends not only on the church, but also on the role of Sunday School teachers and families who work together to build a conducive spiritual environment. Thus, Robert Raikes' thinking makes an important contribution to the development of Christian education that is relevant in the modern era.

The Tandak Timang tradition in Batu Badinding Village, Central Katingan District, plays an important role in fostering the faith of children aged 1-5 years, which is carried out by parents. From an early age, children are introduced to faith values through Tandak Timang verses that contain advice, prayers, and praise to God. This study aims to (1) describe the role of parents in fostering the faith of children aged 1-5 years through the Tandak Timang tradition in Batu Badinding Village, Central Katingan District; and (2) describe the values implemented by parents for children aged 1-5 years in Batu Badinding Village, Central Katingan District. The research used a qualitative descriptive method with data collection techniques including observation, interviews, and documentation.The results show that Tandak Timang plays a significant role in shaping children's spiritual foundation. Parents' roles are manifested through daily practices, such as singing, storytelling, and rocking children while chanting verses in the Dayak Ngaju language. This practice not only builds strong emotional bonds but also serves as an effective medium for instilling noble values. These values include cultural values, moral and ethical values, ancestral values, and spiritual values that teach children about the importance of prayer and hope in God.The conclusion of this study is that parents act not only as cultural inheritors but also as educators, role models, and facilitators. They utilize intimate moments when putting children to sleep—through singing, storytelling, and rocking—to instill faith values. The strong physical and emotional interaction builds a solid bond, making it easier for children to accept and internalize a deep understanding of the teachings conveyed. The Tandak Timang tradition is rich in noble values that serve as the foundation for faith formation. These values include cultural values, moral and ethical values, ancestral values, and spiritual values. The suggestions put forward are that parents should further understand the meaning of Tandak Timang for fostering children's faith from an early age, and pass on and preserve the character of children through this Central Kalimantan Dayak culture. For subsequent researchers conducting similar studies, it is recommended to develop the research objectives and focus more specifically on the research topics.

Effective communication is an important element in the early childhood learning process because it plays a significant role in children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. This study aims to determine the influence of teachers’ roles in developing effective communication among early childhood children aged 4–5 years at TK Damhil, Kota Selatan, Gorontalo Province. The research used a quantitative method with a descriptive research design. The research subjects consisted of 5 children aged 4–5 years selected through purposive sampling techniques. Data collection techniques were carried out through direct observation of children’s communication activities during the learning process. The results showed that the teacher’s role is very important in building effective communication through the use of simple language, responsive attitudes, active listening skills, and the use of verbal and nonverbal communication that is appropriate to children’s developmental characteristics. The implementation of effective communication was proven to improve children’s self-confidence, social interaction skills, and readiness to face formal education. Therefore, effective communication applied by teachers provides a positive contribution to optimizing early childhood development.

This study aims to describe the implementation of instilling Islamic Religious Education values in the aspects of the Qur’an and Aqidah at TPQ Fattuhul Qulub, Doyo Baru District. The background of this research is based on the importance of Islamic religious education in shaping children’s character and morals from an early age amid the decline in the morality of the younger generation. TPQ, as a non-formal educational institution, has an important role in instilling Islamic values through learning the Qur’an, aqidah, and morals. However, in its implementation, several obstacles are still found, such as the low understanding of students regarding religious values, varying abilities in reading the Qur’an, and the lack of support from family and community environments.This study employed a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation at TPQ Fattuhul Qulub, Doyo Baru District. The focus of the research includes the planning, implementation, and evaluation processes of instilling Islamic Religious Education values in the aspects of the Qur’an and Aqidah.The results of the study indicate that the instillation of Islamic Religious Education values has been carried out through structured stages of planning, implementation, and evaluation. The learning process was conducted using the methods of Iqra’, tahsin, tahfidz, talaqqi, lectures, role modeling, habituation, and exemplary stories. In the Qur’anic aspect, students were guided to read the Qur’an according to tajwid rules and memorize short surahs, while in the Aqidah aspect, students were taught the pillars of faith, the attributes of Allah and His Messenger, and the formation of Islamic morals. The evaluation results showed improvements in Qur’anic reading skills, memorization, understanding of aqidah, and changes in students’ religious behavior, such as becoming more disciplined, polite, and diligent in worship. This success was supported by the exemplary behavior of the teachers and the involvement of parents in the learning process.

This study examines the legal protection of children's rights to inclusive education and its implications for the institutional governance of Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Indonesia. A normative juridical method with a descriptive-qualitative library-based approach is used to evaluate the coherence between macro-level child protection regulations and operational standards for school management. The data are entirely secondary, sourced from statutory laws, ministerial regulations, and pertinent scientific literature. The findings reveal a fundamental tension: the constitutional rights of children with special needs to access non-discriminatory ECE are robustly guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution, Law No. 35/2014 on Child Protection, and Law No. 8/2016 on Persons with Disabilities, yet a wide gap persists at the implementation level. This discrepancy arises because derivative ECE governance instruments including accreditation frameworks and curriculum standards still frame inclusion readiness as a voluntary component rather than a binding obligation. Consequently, ECE institutions encounter systemic barriers in human resource management, physical accessibility, and curricular flexibility. The study underscores the urgency of transitioning ECE management toward a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) and recommends that the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education reform accreditation instruments by embedding inclusive indicators as mandatory prerequisites for institutional feasibility, thereby aligning administrative governance with the fulfillment of children's constitutional rights.

For every child to receive an equal education, inclusive education at the early childhood education (PAUD) level is a strategic step. The purpose of this study is to thoroughly study the basic concepts of inclusive education in early childhood, identify various types of specific challenges for Children with Special Needs (ABK) in regular classes, and evaluate how effective the use of inclusive learning methods is in optimizing child development. This study uses a literature review with a descriptive qualitative approach. Secondary data were analyzed using content analysis. According to the study, teachers in regular classes face multidimensional characteristics of ABK. These obstacles include visual impairment, deafness, mental retardation, physical disability, emotional retardation/ADHD, autism, and exceptional intelligence. To overcome these problems, it has been proven that the use of assistive technology, a more flexible curriculum, individualized learning programs (IPC) based on initial assessment, varied teaching methods, and a friendly environment can be helpful. This study shows that teachers are not the only key to the success of inclusive education. This requires strong multi-stakeholder collaboration between the government, schools, special education teachers (GPK), professionals, and parents to address facility challenges and eliminate existing stigma in the field.

This study endeavors to elucidate the application of educational videos pertaining to Heroes' Day in fostering the social communication competencies of early childhood learners at Kindergarten 001 Bunguran Timur Laut. Social communication skills are essential for young children as they support language development, social interaction, emotional expression, and the ability to build positive relationships with others. Therefore, educators are encouraged to utilize innovative and engaging learning media that can effectively stimulate children's communication abilities. The methodological framework employed in this investigation was qualitative in nature, utilizing a descriptive approach. The participant cohort comprised 15 children from Group B, aged between 5–6 years. Data were gathered through systematic observation, structured interviews, and comprehensive documentation to obtain a thorough understanding of the learning process and its outcomes. The findings revealed that the integration of educational videos concerning Heroes' Day facilitated the development of social communication skills among children, including verbal expression, responsive inquiry, collaborative engagement, and interactive discourse with peers and educators. The participants demonstrated heightened enthusiasm, greater confidence in expressing their opinions, and increased active participation throughout the instructional sequence. Moreover, the visual and auditory elements of the videos helped children better understand the learning material and encouraged meaningful discussions. Consequently, educational videos pertaining to Heroes' Day may serve as an effective pedagogical medium for nurturing the social communication competencies of early childhood learners at Kindergarten 001 Bunguran Timur Laut.

Stunting remains a major public health challenge in Indonesia, requiring systematic early detection and community-based interventions. This community service activity aimed to implement early stunting detection through parental health education and anthropometric measurements of children under five at Posyandu Pasir Putih, Kelurahan Baurung, Kecamatan Banggae Timur, Kabupaten Majene, West Sulawesi. A participatory approach was used, combining interactive health education sessions with standardized anthropometric screening (weight, height/length, mid-upper arm circumference, and head circumference) for 35 toddlers aged 0–59 months. Parental knowledge was assessed using pre-test and post-test questionnaires administered to 38 parents. Results showed a significant increase in parental knowledge, from a mean pre-test score of 52.4 (poor category) to 81.6 (good category) on post-test. Anthropometric assessment revealed that 13 out of 35 toddlers (37.1%) were identified as stunted (25.7% stunted; 11.4% severely stunted). All identified cases were referred to the local health center (Puskesmas) for specific nutritional interventions including supplementary feeding and intensive nutrition counseling. These findings indicate that integrated anthropometric screening combined with targeted parental education is an effective strategy for early stunting identification at the community level. Posyandu plays a crucial role as a platform for translating anthropometric data into meaningful risk communication and promoting sustained community engagement in child growth monitoring

World Health Organization (WHO) reports that immunization is able to prevent approximately 3–5 million deaths each year; however, a number of children still do not receive optimal immunization coverage due to insufficient parental knowledge. This study aimed to analyze the effect of health education on improving mothers’ knowledge regarding early childhood immunization in RW 04, Kertamaya Subdistrict, Bogor City, in 2026. This study employed a pre- experimental design with a one-group pretest–posttest approach involving 30 respondents. Knowledge levels were measured using a questionnaire before and after the health education intervention and analyzed using the Paired Sample T-Test. The results indicated a statistically significant difference in mothers’knowledge levels before and after the health education intervention (p = 0.029). In addition, the proportion of respondents with good knowledge increased from 76.7% in the pre-test to 93.3% in the post-test. These findings demonstrate that health education has a significant effect on improving mothers’ knowledge and can serve as an effective promotive intervention to support the success of community-level immunization programs.

This study aimed to describe the characteristics and contributing factors of autistic disorder in early childhood. The study employed a qualitative approach using a case study method involving a 5-year-1-month-old boy diagnosed with severe autistic disorder. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and psychological assessments using the Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). The findings revealed that the participant experienced significant impairments in social interaction, communication, repetitive behavior, emotional regulation, and adaptive functioning. The participant demonstrated poor eye contact, severe speech delay, stereotyped behaviors such as flapping, hyperactivity, tantrums, and restricted interests in specific objects. VSMS results indicated significant delays in social maturity, while CARS results categorized the participant as having severe autism. Biological factors, including prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal complications, were suspected to contribute to the development of autistic disorder. Environmental factors, particularly inconsistent responses from family members and therapists toward tantrum behaviors, also influenced the participant’s behavioral development. This study highlights the importance of consistent, structured interventions and collaboration between families and therapists in supporting children with autistic disorder.