Efektivitas Edukasi Kesejahteraan Hewan sebagai Strategi Pendidikan Karakter dalam Menumbuhkan Empati Anak Usia Dini
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Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis peningkatan empati anak usia dini setelah memperoleh edukasi kesejahteraan hewan sebagai strategi pendidikan karakter di PAUD Permata Bangsa. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif pra-eksperimen dengan desain one-group pretest-posttest. Subjek penelitian berjumlah 20 anak usia 5-6 tahun pada Kelompok B, terdiri atas 7 anak laki-laki (35%) dan 13 anak perempuan (65%). Intervensi dilaksanakan selama 3 kali pertemuan melalui cerita bergambar, media visual, permainan peran, simulasi perawatan hewan, prilaku yang baik, serta penolakan terhadap kekerasan pada makhluk hidup. Data dikumpulkan menggunakan lembar observasi empati, wawancara guru, dan dokumentasi. Data kuantitatif dianalisis secara deskriptif dan inferensial menggunakan Wilcoxon signed-rank test, sedangkan data wawancara dan dokumentasi digunakan untuk memperkuat interpretasi perubahan perilaku anak. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan peningkatan skor rata-rata empati dari 15,20 pada pretest menjadi 23,40 pada posttest, dengan selisih rata-rata 8,20. Uji hipotesis menunjukkan perbedaan yang signifikan (Z = -3,92; p < 0,001) dengan effect size besar (r = 0,88). Data pendukung menunjukkan anak lebih peka terhadap kondisi hewan, lebih lembut dalam berinteraksi, menolak tindakan kasar, dan menunjukkan kemauan menolong dalam simulasi perawatan. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa edukasi kesejahteraan hewan memiliki potensi sebagai strategi pendidikan karakter yang kontekstual dan humanis untuk menumbuhkan empati anak usia dini. Namun, karena desain penelitian belum menggunakan kelompok kontrol, hasil ini ditafsirkan sebagai bukti awal dan masih memerlukan pengujian dengan desain eksperimen yang lebih kuat.
The Effectiveness of Animal Welfare Education as a Character Education Strategy in Fostering Early Childhood Empathy
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the improvement of early childhood empathy after receiving animal welfare education as a character education strategy at PAUD Permata Bangsa. The study employed a quantitative pre-experimental approach using a one-group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 20 children aged 5-6 years in Group B, consisting of 7 boys (35%) and 13 girls (65%). The intervention was implemented in 3 sessions through picture stories, visual media, role-playing, animal care simulations, and simple reflection activities emphasizing animals' basic needs, proper treatment of animals, and the rejection of violence toward living beings. Data were collected using an empathy observation sheet, teacher interviews, and documentation. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, while interview and documentation data were used to support the interpretation of children's behavioral changes. The results showed an increase in the mean empathy score from 15.20 in the pretest to 23.40 in the posttest, with a mean difference of 8.20. The hypothesis test indicated a significant difference (Z = -3.92; p < 0.001) with a large effect size (r = 0.88). Supporting data indicated that children became more sensitive to animals' conditions, gentler in interaction, more likely to reject harsh treatment, and more willing to help in animal care simulations. These findings suggest that animal welfare education has the potential to serve as a contextual and humane character education strategy for fostering empathy in early childhood. However, because the study did not employ a control group, the findings should be interpreted as preliminary evidence and require further testing using a stronger experimental design.
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