Character Education Through Traditional Games: A Literature Review on Value Formation in Early Childhood

Character education in early childhood is an important foundation in building a generation that is honest, ethical, and able to adapt to the ever-changing social dynamics. However, the rapid pace of globalization and the dominance of digital games have shifted children's interests away from traditional games, which are inherently rich in noble values. The purpose of this study is to critically examine the role of traditional games in shaping the character values of early childhood, identify challenges in their implementation, and provide recommendations for strengthening character education based on local wisdom. This research uses a systematic observation method following the PRISMA guidelines through literature search on Google Scholar and Scopus. Out of 1,027 articles identified, only 9 met the inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed that traditional games such as Engklek, Cublak-Cublak Suweng, Congklak, Gobak Sodor, and Sesiku consistently instill values such as honesty, discipline, responsibility, cooperation, tolerance, empathy, and religiosity. Additionally, the study demonstrated that traditional games contribute to cognitive, affective, psychomotor, and social development, as well as strengthening children's cultural identity. However, the main challenges include limited teacher understanding, insufficient resources, the dominance of digital games, and a lack of policy support. This study concludes that traditional games are not merely a form of entertainment but an educational tool capable of integrating moral knowledge, moral feelings, and moral actions in a holistic manner. The revitalization of traditional games through curriculum integration, teacher training, and cross-sectoral collaboration is essential to achieve sustainable character education.