The Importance of Introducing Local Culture to Develop the Character of Early Childhood
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62872/3f49b167Keywords:
Local Culture, Character Education, Early Childhood, ECE, Storytelling, Local WisdomAbstract
The introduction of local culture in Early Childhood Education (ECE) is regarded as a strategic approach to fostering character development from an early age. This article outlines both theoretical foundations and recent empirical evidence regarding the role of local cultural elements such as indigenous values, regional languages, folktales, rituals, and community practices in shaping children’s core character traits, including religiosity, honesty, responsibility, discipline, empathy, cooperation, and patriotism. Through a narrative literature review and thematic synthesis of more than 40 scholarly sources, this study develops the “4L-CARE” conceptual model (Language, Lore, Local Practices, Landscape → Character, Agency, Relatedness, Empathy) that explains the linkage between local cultural experiences and character competencies in children aged 4–6 years. Furthermore, the article proposes practical strategies for implementing the Merdeka Curriculum within culturally contextual PAUD settings, including storytelling-based (masatua/folklore) activities, character assessment rubrics, and models of collaboration among teachers, parents, and local communities. The findings emphasize that authentic, repetitive, and meaningful integration of local culture supported by a safe and inclusive local language environment enhances the internalization of character values through play, storytelling, and community-based projects.
Downloads
References
Bandura, A. (1999). A social cognitive theory of personality. In L. A. Pervin & O. P. John (Eds.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (2nd ed., pp. 154–196). Guilford Press.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. Sage Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Denham, S. A., Bassett, H. H., & Zinsser, K. (2012). Early childhood teachers as socializers of young children’s emotional competence. Early Childhood Education Journal, 40(3), 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-012-0504-2
Handayani, L., & Astuti, R. (2022). Storytelling and character building in early childhood education. Golden Age Journal, 8(1), 55–67.
Handayani, L., & Astuti, R. (2022). Storytelling and empathy development in early childhood education. Golden Age Journal, 8(1), 55–67. https://doi.org/10.14421/goldenage.2022.81
Hendarwati, S., Ramadhani, N., & Wulandari, T. (2024). Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka berbasis konteks budaya lokal di PAUD. Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Indonesia, 6(1), 23–37.
Hendarwati, S., et al. (2024). Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka dalam konteks budaya lokal di PAUD. Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Indonesia, 6(1), 23–37.
Kemdikbudristek. (2022). Kurikulum Merdeka PAUD: Capaian pembelajaran dan panduan implementasi. Direktorat PAUD.
Lickona, T. (1991). Educating for character: How our schools can teach respect and responsibility. Bantam Books.
Nurhasanah, R. (2023). Bahasa daerah dan empati anak usia dini. Golden Age Journal, 9(2), 90–103.
Putra, I. W., Suarta, I. M., & Dewi, N. L. (2021). Permainan tradisional dan pembentukan karakter anak usia dini di Bali. Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Indonesia, 5(1), 45–54.
Rogoff, B. (2003). The cultural nature of human development. Oxford University Press.
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Suryana, D., & Yuliani, R. (2022). Revitalisasi budaya lokal sebagai basis pendidikan karakter anak usia dini. Cakrawala Dini, 13(2), 75–88.
Thomas, J., & Harden, A. (2008). Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 8, Article 45. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-8-45
UNESCO. (2021). Education for sustainable development for 2030: Toolbox for learning cities. UNESCO.
UNESCO. (2023). Culture-based learning for sustainable development. UNESCO Publishing.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
Widodo, A., & Fauziah, N. (2023). Cultural-based character education in Merdeka Curriculum implementation. International Journal of Early Childhood Studies, 12(4), 101–112.
Yuliani, D., & Hartati, S. (2023). Integrasi nilai kearifan lokal dalam pembelajaran karakter di PAUD Indonesia. Jurnal Obsesi, 7(2), 1403–1415. https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v7i2.3742
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Made Ayu Anggreni, Jahju Hartanti, Adi Winarno (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
