Exploring Moral Development in Early Childhood: Integrating Piaget, Kohlberg, Hoffman, and Haidt Perspectives through Local Wisdom Project-Based Learning

Abstract

This study aims to explore moral development in early childhood by integrating perspectives from Jean Piaget, Lawrence Kohlberg, Martin Hoffman, and Jonathan Haidt through project-based learning. Using a quantitative approach, the study involved questionnaires completed by 28 early childhood education teachers regarding children's religious and moral values in daily activities. The results of data analysis showed that project-based learning significantly improved children's understanding of morality and religious values. Teachers reported improvements in moral aspects, such as empathy, justice and social responsibility, which are in line with Piaget's theory of moral development, Kohlberg's stages of moral development, Hoffman's empathy and Haidt's moral intuition. The study concludes that the integration of moral development theories in a project-based curriculum can enrich early childhood moral education, facilitating the internalisation of values through practical experience and social interaction. Recommendations for further research include the development of more comprehensive measurement instruments and the application of similar approaches across different cultural contexts.