Holistic Education for Developing Early Childhood Potential: A Literature Review

Abstract

This study aims to elaborate the concept of holistic education to develop early childhood potential. The study method uses content analysis. Through a number of relevant literature, researchers try to analyze the concept of holistic education to develop early childhood potential. The results of the study show that, first, holistic education has the basic idea that basically an individual is a whole person who has cognition, affection, psychomotor, soul and body, who can find identity, meaning and purpose in life through his relationship with society, the environment nature, and spiritual values. Second, holistic education views children as whole beings, as subjects and objects of education, multidimensional, having nature, having strengths as well as weaknesses. These keywords are relevant to early childhood Islamic education, which seeks to develop the full and balanced potential of early childhood in harmony with the concept of “kaffah” (Q.S. Al-Baqarah: 208); who view children as subjects and objects of education which in essence are the most perfect and special beings (ahsani taqwim) (Q.S. al-Tien: 4); also views children as unique creatures characterized by their potential which consists of two dimensions, namely the material dimension (body) and the immaterial dimension (nafs, 'aql, qalb, and spirit). (Q.S. al-Sajdah: 6-9).

Keywords: Holistic Education, Early Childhood Islamic Education, Kaffah, Nafs, 'Aql, Qalb, Spirit.