Character Education Through Science Learning in Early Childhood

Character education is part of the learning process in an educational unit. Character is closely related to norms and practices in social and community life. Character refers to a series of aspects that include attitudes, behaviors, motivations, and skills.

Character education should be applied from early childhood, because this period is the most appropriate time to lay the foundations for developing physical, language, social-emotional, self-concept, artistic, moral and religious-value abilities. Children will become people of positive character when they receive stimulation and support from a positive educational environment, both at home and at school. Parents and teachers play an active role in always promoting the values of character education together at every opportunity, especially to early childhood children.

The learning process given to early childhood children should be carried out with the aim of providing basic concepts that are meaningful to children through real experiences that enable children to show their creativity and curiosity optimally, one of which is science learning in early childhood. Educators or teachers, working together with parents, should introduce science in a simple way to children because children's daily lives are inseparable from science.

Science is one of the components of a series of cognitive development areas that has an important role in education and supports the development of science and technology. The use of science is inseparable from everyday life, for example: getting to know magnets, parts of plants, and objects around the child. From an early age, children begin to be introduced to science that is simple and found around them. Science learning for children should provide real objects, so that children understand their actual form.

Science learning is directed at forming personality or character (character building), namely being honest, critical, creative, positive in facing failure, humble, not easily giving up, open to being criticised and tested, valuing and accepting input, guided by facts, and having a high curiosity.

Science learning in early childhood places more emphasis on introducing science in a simple way through activities of observing scientific processes. Children will gain experience from the process of their observation.

Science learning in early childhood can be taught through play. This is expected to develop all aspects of development and the potential that children have to the maximum. Introducing science will train children from an early age to recognise various natural phenomena, objects and events. Children are trained through their senses to see, touch, smell, taste, hear and feel. The more often the children's senses are involved, the more they will understand what they are learning and gain new knowledge through the results of their sensory perception of the various objects around them. Science learning can increase children's knowledge and understanding of the environment, based on the collection or observation of data or research through observation.

Introducing simple science from an early age through play can indirectly shape children's character. For example, Early Childhood Education carries out the learning process by introducing simple science through play to early childhood children so as to shape their character from an early age. Children engage in simple science play by observing the growth process of mung bean sprouts, planting plants and caring for plants. Through the activities of tending, watering and observing the plants' growth process from day to day, it is hoped that children's character will be formed.

The characters to be achieved from these activities in science learning include a critical attitude, patience, perseverance, thoroughness and responsibility. In this way, introducing simple science to children becomes more meaningful and enjoyable. The science learning process gives children the opportunity to engage all the process skills they have.

Introducing science to early childhood is very important in shaping children's character from an early age. Therefore, educators and parents should work together to stimulate and encourage science learning so that all aspects of children's development and potential can develop to the maximum.