Peningkatan Karakter Religius Anak Usia Dini melalui Metode Bermain dalam Pembelajaran Pendidikan Agam Islam di TK Dharma Wanita Pohijo 2 Sampung Ponorogo

Abstract

Religious character is one of the important aspects that needs to be instilled from an early age through consistent habituation in children's daily activities. Islamic Religious Education (PAI) learning for early childhood requires an approach that is appropriate to children's developmental characteristics, one of which is through enjoyable and active play-based activities. This community service activity aimed to improve the religious character of early childhood through play-based methods in Islamic Religious Education learning at TK Dharma Wanita Pohijo 2, Sampung, Ponorogo. The participants consisted of 13 students in Group A. The activities were carried out during the Kuliah Pengabdian Masyarakat (KPM) program through learning activities and habituation integrated into play activities. The activities included habituating children to recite basmalah and hamdalah, introducing and practicing prayers before and after meals and before leaving school, memorizing Surah Al-Fatihah, singing songs about the Pillars of Islam, and playing a guessing game about the Pillars of Islam. Based on observations during the implementation of the activities, changes in children's religious habits were observed. Children began to demonstrate awareness of reciting prayers before eating and tended to wait until the prayer had been recited before starting their meals. The habituation of reciting prayers after meals also encouraged children to remain seated and participate in the activity until it was completed. However, the implementation of these habituation activities still required repeated reinforcement and reminders because children's levels of compliance and consistency varied. These findings indicate that play-based methods combined with religious habituation can serve as an appropriate approach to supporting the development of religious character in early childhood.