Merdeka Program Encourages Parents to Connect with Their Children – Front Row

The exhibition showcases six selected works by parents, sharing inspiring stories of how collaboration between schools and families can effectively support children’s education. One of the standout works is “Exciting Storytelling with My Dad” by Tri Sujarwo, selected in the Parent category. The work features a photo of a joyful moment when Tri tells a story to his son, Albiruni, using a puppet named Bruno. Tri explains that telling stories with puppets brings the stories to life and makes them more enjoyable for his child.

“Using puppets makes kids more interested in the stories. I always try to include a moral message that is easy to understand, and this method helps convey the message without seeming preachy,” Tri said.

Tri expressed his joy and pride in the fact that his work was selected as one of the best works in the Merdeka Curriculum Storytelling Portrait 2024. He emphasised that storytelling is one way that parents can participate in supporting their children’s learning, in line with the principles of the Merdeka Curriculum, where parents can actively enrich their children’s learning experiences outside of school, making learning more enjoyable and meaningful.

“Through storytelling, children can expand their vocabulary and acquire new knowledge, which indirectly supports the efforts of teachers at school. In the Merdeka Curriculum, parents play a key role in their children’s learning process. That is why I am very grateful and proud to be among the selected works in the Portrait of Stories from the Merdeka Curriculum 2024,” added Tri.

Another work that shows the joy of parents and children in improving their 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, instilled in her child the habit of reading for at least 15 minutes a day since he was an infant.

“I believe that literacy should be instilled from a very young age, even from infancy. My husband and I have developed a habit in our child of reading age-appropriate books for at least 15 minutes a day. This habit has a very positive impact on the child’s literacy and numeracy development, and it also nurtures a love of learning,” Hastuti added.

Hastuti explained that reading together with her child fits into the Merdeka educational approach, which involves parents taking an active role in equipping their children with literacy and numeracy skills at home, as well as providing them with opportunities to explore and discover their interests and talents.

“The Merdeka Curriculum offers children a wide range of opportunities to learn and explore in line with their interests, talents and characteristics. This approach aims to help children find their future roles and become valuable members of their communities. Literacy and numeracy are key aspects that support learning, and parents can play a key role in cultivating a love of learning and instilling literacy and numeracy skills in their children from a young age at home,” Hastuti explained.

In addition to cognitive abilities, instilling character education in children from a young age is also very important. This is reflected in the work of Maya Rahmatina entitled “I Love Animals”. Maya, the mother of Nur Mecca Medina, a student at Husna Kindergarten in the city of Banjarbaru in South Kalimantan, shared the joy she experienced with her child while feeding a cat. Maya mentioned that this simple act has a positive effect on her child’s development.

“Feeding animals is a simple act that can have a positive impact,” Maya said. “By encouraging children to give, we cultivate their social awareness. My child is still in early childhood education, so the act doesn’t have to be complicated. Even just feeding a cat is enough to teach the value of empathy and caring.”

Maya explained that this activity reflects the role that parents play in their children’s education, especially in character building according to the Merdeka Curriculum. “The Merdeka Curriculum is simple, fun and more child-friendly. I learned about positive discipline to deal with children from a psychological perspective. As parents, we can apply this approach at home,” Maya added.

The works in Portrait of Stories from the Merdeka Curriculum present real-life examples of how parents can actively contribute to their children’s educational development. Through a variety of creative and educational activities, these stories inspire parents to become more actively involved in the educational process, strengthen bonds with their children, and instill positive values ​​that support both cognitive and character development, all in line with the principles of the Merdeka Curriculum.