Islamic Character Stories: Storytelling of Exemplary Tales to Strengthen Children's Integrity, Honesty, and Courage at RA Chairunnisa Sukoharjo

Abstract

Character strengthening from an early age is an essential foundation for developing a generation that is honest, responsible, and possesses strong integrity. However, the implementation of character education in early childhood education institutions still faces various challenges, particularly in selecting learning methods that align with children's developmental characteristics. This Community Service Program aimed to enhance children's understanding and internalization of honesty, courage, and integrity values through a storytelling approach based on the exemplary story of Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq. The program was conducted in an early childhood education setting involving children aged 4–6 years as participants. The implementation stages included preparation, interactive storytelling sessions, discussion and reflection activities, and program evaluation. Learning media consisted of illustrated storybooks, character images, and interactive question-and-answer activities tailored to children's developmental levels. The results demonstrated that participants were highly enthusiastic throughout the program, understood the moral messages conveyed in the stories, and showed increased confidence in answering questions and expressing their opinions. Furthermore, the children were able to identify honest and responsible behaviors exemplified by the story character. These findings indicate that storytelling based on Islamic exemplary stories is an effective educational approach for instilling character values in early childhood. This program can serve as an alternative character education strategy that is engaging, enjoyable, and easily implemented by both educators and parents.