BUILDING CHARACTER FROM AN EARLY AGE

The assertion that character doesn’t develop automatically is a fundamental truth in developmental psychology. While growing older guarantees physical growth and biological maturity, moral and mental maturity require deliberate intervention. Without training and guidance, children will absorb values from whatever they see around them, whether through social media, television, or social interactions that may not align with their family’s values. Early childhood education is the foundation for shaping an individual’s personality and character, which will influence their lives into adulthood.

Early childhood is an individual who is in the first eight years of life, a crucial period known as the golden age (golden age). During this phase, all dimensions of a child’s growth and development—physical, cognitive, and emotional—accelerate rapidly. Given the significance of this period, Susanto (2021) emphasized that appropriate stimulation is crucial for determining the quality of a child’s future.