Great Children Loving Their Country: Educational Game Media for Fostering Nationalism in Early Childhood

Abstract

This study aims to describe the implementation of educational game media in fostering nationalism among young children at TK Pertiwi Badak, Pemalang Regency. The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach with data collection techniques including observation, documentation, and analysis of learning activities. The educational game media were developed through various play-based activities involving national symbols, including creating the red-and-white flag, coloring the Indonesian flag, arranging flags based on size, matching Pancasila symbols, and assembling the Garuda Pancasila puzzle. The results showed that the use of educational game media was able to create active, concrete, and enjoyable nationalism learning experiences for children. Children demonstrated positive engagement through their ability to recognize national symbols, follow game rules, cooperate with peers, and show interest in Indonesian national identity. Play-based learning also successfully integrated nationalism values with various aspects of child development, including cognitive abilities, motor skills, creativity, and social-emotional development. Educational game media can serve as an innovative alternative for character education in early childhood education because it aligns with the fundamental principle of early childhood learning, which emphasizes direct experiences through play activities.