Children’s Social Exploration In Urban Islamic Early Childhood Education: A Comparative Case Study In Medan

Melvi Sari Anggraini, Ahmad Syukri Sitorus

Abstract


Social competence in early childhood is crucial, yet urban children in Medan face barriers to social exploration due to limited play spaces and high gadget use. This study compares social exploration in two urban Islamic kindergartens and identifies supporting and inhibiting factors. Using a qualitative comparative case study, data were collected from ABA 05 Kindergarten in Medan Timur and RA Islam An-Nur in Medan Johor. Participants included 12 children aged 4–6 years, 4 teachers, and 2 principals. Data were gathered through eight weeks of participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation, then analyzed using Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña’s model. Findings indicate that ABA 05 facilitates exploration through structured role-play and learning centers, while RA An-Nur emphasizes congregational prayer and halaqah based on ukhuwah and ta’awun. Supporting factors include teacher guidance and Islamic values, whereas limited space and gadget use remain barriers. The study proposes an “Islamic Social Scaffolding Model” for strengthening children’s social exploration in urban Islamic PAUD.

Keywords


Social Exploration; Early Childhood; Islamic Kindergarten; Urban Environment; Qualitative Studies.

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30829/raudhah.v14i2.5843

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