Cultivating Environmental Care among Children Aged 5-6 Years: The Role of Habituation and Role Modeling in Early Childhood Education

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze environmental care among children aged 5–6 years at RA Plus Fatahul Wardah Palembang. The study was motivated by the importance of fostering environmental awareness from an early age through consistent habituation and role modeling in children’s daily lives. A qualitative approach with a case study design was employed. The participants were children aged 5–6 years, while the principal and classroom teachers served as key informants. Data were collected through observations, interviews, and documentation and were analyzed through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicated that environmental care was reflected in children’s everyday behaviors, including disposing of waste properly, maintaining classroom cleanliness, organizing play equipment after use, conserving water, and caring for plants in the school environment. The findings also demonstrated that teachers played an important role in fostering children’s environmental care through consistent habituation, role modeling, the integration of environmental care values into learning activities, and positive reinforcement. Repeated environmental practices provided children with direct experiences that supported their understanding and application of responsible behaviors toward their surroundings. Thus, the continuous development of environmental care through habituation and role modeling can support the development of caring, responsible, and environmentally aware behaviors in early childhood.

[Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis karakter peduli lingkungan pada anak usia 5–6 tahun di RA Plus Fatahul Wardah Palembang. Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh pentingnya pengembangan kepedulian terhadap lingkungan sejak usia dini melalui pembiasaan dan keteladanan yang dilakukan secara konsisten dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan desain studi kasus. Partisipan penelitian adalah anak usia 5–6 tahun, sedangkan kepala sekolah dan guru kelas berperan sebagai informan kunci. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi, kemudian dianalisis melalui tahapan reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa karakter peduli lingkungan pada anak tercermin dalam berbagai perilaku sehari-hari, antara lain membuang sampah pada tempatnya, menjaga kebersihan kelas, merapikan alat bermain setelah digunakan, menghemat penggunaan air, dan merawat tanaman di lingkungan sekolah. Temuan penelitian juga menunjukkan bahwa guru berperan penting dalam membentuk kepedulian lingkungan anak melalui pembiasaan yang konsisten, keteladanan, integrasi nilai-nilai kepedulian lingkungan dalam kegiatan pembelajaran, dan pemberian penguatan positif. Praktik yang dilakukan secara berulang memberikan pengalaman langsung kepada anak dalam memahami dan menerapkan perilaku bertanggung jawab terhadap lingkungan. Dengan demikian, pengembangan karakter peduli lingkungan melalui pembiasaan dan keteladanan yang dilakukan secara berkelanjutan dapat mendukung terbentuknya perilaku peduli, bertanggung jawab, dan sadar lingkungan pada anak usia dini.]