Effective Islamic communication strategies play a decisive role in shaping the moral development of young children, according to research by Deby Indah Armayanti Pasaribu, M.I.Kom., and Icol Dianto, M.Sos., academics from Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Syekh Ali Hasan Ahmad Addary in Indonesia. Published in 2026 in the International Journal of Global Sustainable Research (IJGSR), the study highlights how carefully designed da’wah communication—religious messaging rooted in Islamic teaching—can help instill ethical behavior during early childhood, widely recognized as the most formative stage of human development. The findings matter as educators and parents increasingly seek effective approaches to character education in a media-saturated era.
Growing Urgency Around Early Childhood Character Education
Across many societies, concerns about declining social values and behavioral challenges among youth have intensified discussions about moral education. Experts widely agree that the foundation of character is established long before adolescence. Children between ages zero and six experience rapid cognitive and emotional growth, making them especially receptive to values communicated through daily interactions.
Pasaribu and Dianto position Islamic da’wah not merely as religious instruction but as a structured communication process capable of guiding attitudes, empathy, discipline, and responsibility. When delivered appropriately, moral messages rooted in faith traditions can become part of a child’s long-term behavioral framework.
The researchers emphasize that young children interpret information differently from adults. Abstract lectures or rigid instruction often fail, while storytelling, modeling behavior, and emotionally supportive communication tend to resonate more strongly.
Research Design and Approach
The study adopts a qualitative library research design, drawing on scholarly books, peer-reviewed journals, and prior studies on Islamic communication, moral education, and early childhood development. Using descriptive and thematic analysis, Pasaribu and Dianto synthesized established theories with contemporary research to identify communication strategies most likely to support moral formation.
Rather than collecting field data, the researchers focused on building an integrated conceptual framework linking four key elements:
- Characteristics of early childhood
- Moral message design
- Communication strategies
- The roles of preachers, parents, and media
This approach allowed the authors to map how religious communication can function effectively within modern family and educational environments.
Key Findings
The research concludes that successful da’wah communication for children must align with developmental psychology while remaining practical and emotionally engaging.
Major insights include:
Children learn primarily through imitation.
Role modeling—known in Islamic tradition as uswah hasanah—emerges as one of the strongest tools for moral education. Children naturally replicate the behavior of parents, teachers, and authority figures.
Concrete messages outperform abstract instruction.
Values such as honesty, compassion, and respect are more easily understood when linked to everyday experiences rather than theoretical explanations.
Gentle communication is more effective than fear-based methods.
Warm, empathetic messaging encourages openness and internalization of values, while harsh approaches may produce compliance without genuine understanding.
Stories, songs, and play enhance retention.
Narratives about prophets or exemplary figures, educational games, and simple songs help children remember and practice moral lessons.
Audio-visual media can amplify moral learning.
Child-friendly Islamic animations and programs capture attention and reinforce ethical messages—provided that parents actively supervise content selection.
Collaboration Is Critical
One of the study’s most significant conclusions is the need for synergy among religious communicators, families, and media institutions.
Preachers serve as interpreters of religious values, parents act as primary educators through daily interaction, and media expands the reach of moral messaging. However, the authors caution that unfiltered media exposure may introduce conflicting values, making parental guidance essential.
“Consistency in message delivery and method determines whether moral values are truly internalized,” Pasaribu and Dianto note, underscoring that repeated, structured communication strengthens character formation when aligned across home, educational, and media environments.
Real-World Implications
The research offers practical guidance for multiple sectors:
For parents: Become consistent role models and integrate moral lessons into everyday routines.
For educators: Adopt creative teaching methods that combine emotional engagement with religious values.
For media producers: Develop high-quality children’s programming that supports ethical development.
For religious institutions: Shift toward psychologically informed communication strategies tailored to young audiences.
More broadly, the framework supports policy conversations about character education, suggesting that moral literacy should begin alongside early cognitive learning rather than later in formal schooling.
The study also contributes academically by bridging several fields—Islamic broadcasting communication, moral education, developmental psychology, and media studies—into a unified model. Previous research often treated these domains separately; Pasaribu and Dianto demonstrate how they intersect in shaping early behavior.
In an era defined by digital influence and rapid cultural change, the authors argue that human-centered, compassionate communication is essential to keeping religious values relevant for younger generations.
Author Profiles
Deby Indah Armayanti Pasaribu, M.I.Kom. is a scholar at Universitas Islam Negeri Syekh Ali Hasan Ahmad Addary specializing in Islamic communication and da’wah studies. Her work focuses on how strategic messaging can support character development and community education.
Icol Dianto, M.Sos. is a lecturer at the same university with expertise in social communication and Islamic broadcasting. His research explores the intersection of media, religion, and societal transformation.
Source
Pasaribu, Deby Indah Armayanti, and Dianto, Icol. “Strategies for Islamic Da'wah Communication in Shaping the Morals of Early Childhood: An Islamic Broadcasting Communication Perspective.” International Journal of Global Sustainable Research (IJGSR), Vol. 4, No. 1, 2026, pp.
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