Abstract

This research aimed to know the role of family in the fostering of Islamic characters in early childhood through the hadith approach. This research method used library research approach and data are obtained from primary data using document study technique to review several hadiths related to the importance of the role of family in fostering Islamic characteristics in early childhood. However, the hadith approach used only in the position to reveal the information about the content of hadith. The data analysis technique conducted through the steps of data reduction, data serving, and the conclusion drawing. The research shows that education of early childhood in the context of family more emphasizes the aspect of good attitude of parents and other family members, as a form of stimulus to deliver the educational messages to children. The result of the finding of hadith about early childhood education is numerous and characteristically varies. Moreover, one of the hadith which is seen as relevant to this topic is the hadith found on the book of Sunan Abi Daud. There are some main things which can be made as the keyword of early childhood education based on the hadith which emphasizes the role of family mainly in fostering Islamic characteristic values in early childhood such as: 1) the importance of the education of shalat for early childhood, 2) the disciplinary education for early childhood, 3) sex education for early childhood. The reinterpretation of this hadith in early childhood education emphasizes the importance of character education for early childhood in the family. It aimed to develop children’s mentality to be accustomed with religious environment, so it is expected to affect the behaviour of children in the future. Although this research did not discuss about the process of takhriij al-hadis and the quality of the validity of its sanad and matan, but it is expected to provide information from the content of the matan and sanad which can raise the awareness of family about the importance of early childhood education mainly in the fostering of Islamic characteristic values.