CULTIVATING ETHICS FROM NATURE: PARENTS' VIEWS ON 21ST-CENTURY VALUES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25078/pw.v10i2.5679Keywords:
Early Childhood, Nature-Based Learning, Parents’ Perspectives, 21st-CenturyValuesAbstract
The formation of 21st-century values and ethics in early childhood is becoming increasingly important amid ever-changing social and environmental dynamics. However, educational practices at this level often focus on cognitive achievement, so that the process of internalizing values is not yet significant for children. This study aims to describe parents’ views on the process of internalizing 21st-century values and ethics through nature-based learning at Putra Bumi Siliwangi 2 Kindergarten. The study uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive phenomenological design. Data collection techniques included in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and documentation, while analysis was conducted through the stages of data reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results showed that nature-based activities, such as planting, caring for plants, and participating in social activities, fostered empathy, responsibility, collaboration, and a love for the environment. Parents see that nature-based learning not only enriches children’s ecological experiences but also strengthens character building and moral awareness from an early age. Thus, nature-based learning serves as an effective and meaningful medium for the internalization of 21st-century values and ethics in early childhood.
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