Introducing physics in early childhood: logic, language, and literacy

Abstract

Physics is an important subject matter for everyone to learn. Therefore, introducing physics from an early age is a necessity. This paper wants to uncover various thoughts about efforts to introduce physics to early childhood. The method used is a Focus Group Discussion (FGD), which involves experts from physics education, linguists, management, and early education. There are several important points that became the result of the FGD, including (1) physics logic must be made simpler that is easy to understand (2) Mathematical formula which becomes a symbol language does not need to be introduced first. Language skills are needed to understand physics and communicate it (3) Through the right approach, method and media, learning that is delivered by the teacher will make early childhood more literate with physics. This research concludes that physics is possible to be taught in early childhood. We, therefore, recommend that early childhood teachers collaborate with physics teachers in planning, implementing, and evaluating physics learning.