MEMBANGUN KARAKTER ANAK USIA DINI : INTEGRASI NILAI RELIGIUS DAN ETIKA DALAM KURIKULUM PAUD

Early Childhood Education (ECE) plays a crucial role in shaping children’s character through the integration of religious and ethical values. This study aims to examine strategies for integrating these values into the ECE curriculum, their impact on character formation, and the challenges of implementation. Employing a qualitative approach based on a literature review, the study analyzes 25 sources, including journals, books, and government regulations, selected for their relevance to character education in early childhood (2010–2023). Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis to identify themes of strategies, impacts, and obstacles. Findings indicate that strategies such as habituation (e.g., praying and practicing courtesy), value-based storytelling, structured play, and project-based learning effectively enhance prosocial behaviors (empathy, cooperation), moral integrity (honesty, responsibility), and spiritual awareness (gratitude, faith). However, challenges such as limited teacher competency, variations in interpreting religious values, and uncontrolled gadget exposure hinder implementation. The study recommends teacher training, collaboration with parents, and the development of digital learning media to support holistic character education. These findings contribute to developing a value-rich ECE curriculum, supporting Indonesia’s national education vision. Keywords: Early Childhood Education; Value; Character