NURTURING EARLY CHILDHOOD CHARACTER THROUGH INDIGENOUS WISDOM IN KAMPUNG NAGA Tetin Nurfitri, Santi Nisfi Anggraeni, Iis Sintiani
Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Al Hidayah Tasikmalaya
Abstract
Amid the currents of modernization that erode noble values, Kampung Naga stands as an oasis of enduring local wisdom. This study explores how this traditional community instills character in early childhood through the local wisdom they have preserved for generations. Employing an ethnographic approach, data were gathered through participant observation, in-depth interviews with traditional elders, community leaders, and parents, as well as documentary studies. The findings reveal that values such as harmony with nature, mutual cooperation (gotong royong), simplicity, discipline, respect for ancestors, and spiritual piety not only serve as guiding principles but are also organically transmitted through daily routines, oral traditions, and deeply embedded child-rearing practices. These results indicate that the local wisdom of Kampung Naga is not merely tradition but an authentic and contextual source of character education for young children. This study offers an alternative culture-based character education model that can be integrated into both formal and non-formal educational settings.
Keywords: early childhood character- indigenous wisdom- Kampung Naga
