CHARACTER EDUCATION MODEL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH NON-FORMAL "SEKOLAH IBU" IN THE VILLAGES

Character Education for very young childrenrequires a synergy between Early Child Education Institution (PAUD) like Playgroups (KB), Similar Education Unit (SPS), and parents during children's care at home. However, the kind of synergy has not been very popularly done and studies that develop this are still fairly limited. Therefore, this study was conducted as an attempt to develop character education model for early childhood education through integrated "Sekolah Ibu" among the non-formal early child schooling in the villages. It is expected that the developed model can be applied during the implementation of character building at the integrated early childhood education program among non-formal Early Childhood Education Institutions and parents at home. This research and development study was conducted among 11 Playgroups and 11 SPSs in the Pajangan Sub-regency, BantulRegency, Yogyakarta Special Territory, Indonesia. 60 parents were involved as respondents during April to October 2012. The results show that the researched Playgroups and SPSs can be developed into a "Sekolah Ibu" targeting parents whose children are learning. The main materials given were about children's character building and education, children's home care, and early childhood education model. The results of the study are then developed into a conceptual-theoretical character education model through non-formal "Sekolah Ibu" Early Child Education Program in the villages which is also completed with a module of early child character education materials