TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Merdeka Curriculum encourages parents to get closer to their children
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
C
hildren's education is not solely the responsibility of teachers at school but also the duty of parents at home. This concept was highlighted in the Portrait of Stories from the 2024 Merdeka Curriculum, showcasing parental involvement in their children's education through a digital exhibition at https://feskurmer.kemdikbud.go.id.
The exhibition features six selected works from parents, displaying inspiring stories of how collaboration between schools and families can effectively support children's education. One of the standout pieces is "Exciting Storytelling with My Dad" by Tri Sujarwo, a selected work in the Parent category. This piece includes a photo capturing the joyful moment when Tri tells a story to his son, Albiruni, using a hand puppet named Bruno. Tri explains that storytelling with puppets brings stories to life and makes them more enjoyable for his child.
“Using hand puppets makes children more interested in stories. I always try to include a moral message that is easy to understand, and this method helps convey the message without seeming preachy,” said Tri.
Tri expressed his happiness and pride in having his work selected as one of the Best Works in the Portrait of Stories from the 2024 Merdeka Curriculum. He emphasized that storytelling is one way parents can participate in supporting their child's learning, in line with the principles of the Merdeka Curriculum, where parents can actively enrich their child’s learning experiences outside of school, making learning more enjoyable and meaningful.
“Through storytelling, children can expand their vocabulary and gain new knowledge, which indirectly supports teachers’ efforts at school. In the Merdeka Curriculum, parents play a key role in their child’s learning process. Therefore, I am very grateful and proud to be among the selected works in the Portrait of Stories from the 2024 Merdeka Curriculum,” added Tri.
Another work that portrays the joy of parents and children in sharpening cognitive skills is "I’ve Loved Books Since I Was Little" by Hastuti Madyaning Utami. Hastuti, the mother of Azzam, a student at Pertiwi Mardisiwi Bandingan Sigaluh kindergarten in Banjarnegara regency, Central Java, has instilled the habit of reading for at least 15 minutes every day since her child was an infant.
“In my opinion, literacy should be instilled from an early age, even from infancy. My husband and I have made it a habit for our child to read for at least 15 minutes a day with age-appropriate books. This habit has a very positive effect on the development of a child’s literacy and numeracy skills while also fostering a love for learning,” Hastuti added.
Hastuti explained that reading together with her child aligns with the learning approach of the Merdeka Curriculum, which involves the active role of parents in equipping children with literacy and numeracy skills at home, while also providing opportunities for them to explore and discover their interests and talents.
“The Merdeka Curriculum offers children a wide range of opportunities to learn and explore according to their interests, talents and characteristics. This approach is designed to help children find their roles in the future and become valuable contributors to their communities. Literacy and numeracy are crucial aspects that support learning, and parents can play a key role in fostering a love for learning and instilling literacy and numeracy skills in their children from an early age at home,” Hastuti explained.
In addition to cognitive abilities, instilling character education in children from an early age is also very important. This is reflected in Maya Rahmatina's work titled "I Love Animals". Maya, the mother of Nur Mecca Medina, a student at Husna kindergarten in Banjarbaru city, South Kalimantan, shared the joy she and her child experienced while feeding a cat. Maya mentioned that this simple activity has a positive impact on her child’s development.
"Feeding animals is a simple activity that can have a positive impact," said Maya. "By encouraging children to give, we nurture their social awareness. My child is still in early childhood education, so the activity doesn’t need to be complicated. Even just feeding a cat is enough to teach values of empathy and care."
Maya explained that this activity reflects the role parents play in their children's education, particularly in instilling character education in line with the Merdeka Curriculum. “The Merdeka Curriculum is simple, enjoyable and more child-friendly. I’ve learned about positive discipline to handle children from a psychological perspective. As parents, we can apply this approach at home,” added Maya.
The works in Portrait of Stories from the Merdeka Curriculum showcase real-life examples of how parents can actively contribute to their children's learning development. Through various creative and educational activities, these stories inspire parents to engage more actively in the education process, strengthen bonds with their children and instill positive values that support both cognitive and character development, all in accordance with the principles of the Merdeka Curriculum.
