The conceptualization of marine environmental awareness in early childhood

Abstract

Indonesia is an island nation with a sea that is wider than the mainland. The purpose of this study is to illustrate the concept of marine environmental awareness in early childhood. This research carried out in Untung Jawa Island. Kepulauan Seribu is an archipelago located in the center of Indonesia's capital city. The qualitative methodology used in this study uses various methods of interviews and observation. Observations and interviews are conducted informally when researchers meet and playing together with participants in Untung jawa Island. The results show that the awareness of the marine environment in early childhood is understanding and attitude to care for the sea, for example, not throwing trash into the sea, maintaining coral reefs in the sea, not taking excessive fish and maintaining the cleanliness of the marine environment. The process to form the concept of marine environment awareness in early childhood on the island that includes self-identification and the environment, the role of parents and peers. Early childhood on the island shows that the formation process takes place continuously involving all three aspects that play a role in shaping the concept of marine environmental awareness. The concept of environmental awareness is related to early childhood living on the island, covering three components, there are understanding of the sea, good attitude towards the sea and good behaviour towards the sea. This research implies that there is a need for further research to construct the concept of awareness of the marine environment in early childhood in the future.