DIGITAL CHARACTER PARENTING: A CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR STRENGTHENING EARLY CHILDHOOD CHARACTER IN THE DIGITAL ERA

Abstrak

The rapid advancement of digital technology has significantly transformed parenting practices and the process of character development among young children. The widespread availability of digital devices and increasing access to information provide opportunities for children's growth and learning while simultaneously presenting challenges in the cultivation of character values. This study aims to examine and formulate the concept of Digital Character Parenting as a model for strengthening early childhood character in the digital era. The study employed a library research approach by analyzing various scholarly works related to character education, digital parenting, family digital literacy, and early childhood development. Data were collected from books, journal articles, and other relevant academic sources and analyzed using content analysis techniques. The findings indicate that strengthening early childhood character in the digital age requires a parenting approach that integrates character education with digital literacy. Based on the synthesis of the literature, the Digital Character Parenting model consists of five key components: Digital Role Modeling, Digital Supervision, Family Digital Literacy, Character Habituation, and Parent–School Partnership. These components are interconnected in supporting children's character formation while guiding them to use digital technology wisely, responsibly, and ethically. This study concludes that Digital Character Parenting can serve as a relevant conceptual model for addressing the challenges of parenting and character education in the digital era. Furthermore, the model may serve as a reference for parents, educators, and policymakers in developing character-strengthening strategies that are adaptive to technological advancement.