Journal of General Education and Humanities
Vol. 5 No. 4 (2026): August

Cultivating Nationalism Through Regional Songs in Early Childhood Education: A Qualitative Exploration and the 4C Pedagogical Model

Paulus Widjanarko (Universitas Slamet Riyadi)
Oka Irmade (Universitas Slamet Riyadi)
Eka Titi Andaryani (Universitas Negeri Semarang)



Article Info

Publish Date
29 Jul 2026

Abstract

In early childhood education, cultivating nationalism and cultural identity requires translating abstract civic values into foundational habits by transforming traditional songs into concrete, multimodal learning experiences. However, there is a pressing need to actively mediate cultural meaning to counterbalance the homogenizing impacts of globalized digital media on young learners. Therefore, this qualitative study investigates the micro-pedagogical mechanisms used to cultivate nationalism and cultural identity through the strategic integration of regional folk songs at Insan Cendekia Kindergarten, Surakarta. The research utilizes a reflexive thematic analysis of practitioner experiences. The empirical findings highlight six key operational themes, spanning from developmentally appropriate planning and authentic assessment to navigating the challenges of digital culture. These mechanisms culminate in the proposed 4C Pedagogical Model: Cultural Contextualization, Corporeal and Multisensory Engagement, Connection of Values to Action, and Continuity between School and Home. The study concludes that the didactic power of regional songs extends far beyond musical performance; its success depends heavily on the educator's ability to mediate cultural meaning actively. Ultimately, this study emphasizes the need to foster a strong school-family ecosystem to mitigate the homogenizing effects of global digital media on early childhood character education.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

gehu

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Mathematics Other

Description

The Journal of General Education and Humanities (GEHU) is a peer-reviewed scholarly online journal. The GEHU is published quarterly in February, May, August, and November. The GEHU is a non-profit journal whose publication is free of charge. The articles should be original, unpublished, and not ...