AUM TRADITION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD LOCAL CULTURAL VALUE-BASED LEARNING AS AN EFFORT TO INSTILL THE VALUE OF MUTUAL COOPERATION IN TALUNOMBO VILLAGE SAPURAN WONOSOBO

Abstract

This study was motivated by the importance of preserving local culture as a medium for character development in early childhood, particularly in fostering the value of mutual cooperation (gotong royong). The Aum Tradition practiced in Talunombo Village, Sapuran District, Wonosobo Regency contains local cultural values that can serve as learning resources for young children. This research aimed to: (1)describe the form and meaning of the Aum Tradition, (2)identify the values of mutual cooperation embedded within it, and (3)analyze the supporting and inhibiting factors in implementing the tradition as a local culture-based learning approach. This study employed a descriptive qualitative method. The research participants included community leaders, parents, educators, and members of the Talunombo community. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The data were analyzed using data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification techniques. The findings revealed that the: (1) Aum Tradition is a self-purification ritual carried out by washing the face at a sacred spring believed to possess spiritual and social significance. The tradition embodies various values of mutual cooperation, including teamwork, togetherness, solidarity, helping one another, social care, harmony, and voluntarism. (2)These values can be integrated into early childhood learning activities through direct experiences and social interactions.(3) Supporting factors include the preservation of the tradition within the community, support from community leaders and parents, and a social environment that upholds the spirit of mutual cooperation. Meanwhile, inhibiting factors include the influence of modernization and digital technology, children's limited understanding of the tradition's meaning, the lack of integration of local culture into educational activities, and decreasing community participation in cultural practices.