Peer-reviewed article

Characteristics of Early Childhood Education Principal Leadership and Its Contribution to The Quality of Early Childhood Education

Umyati · 17 Sept 2026

Abstract

The leadership of Early Childhood Education (ECE) principals plays a crucial role in determining the quality of education and holistic development of children. This study aims to identify and analyze the leadership characteristics of ECE principals that most influence educational success, particularly in the context of developing students' character. The method employed is a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of articles published in Scopus and Web of Science indexed journals within the last ten years. Thematic analysis was used to extract patterns and themes from the literature meeting the inclusion criteria. The review results indicate that leadership in ECE is relational and contextual, with dominant characteristics including effective communication, positive relationships with parents and the community, and collaborative decision-making. Transformational leadership proven to have a significant influence on teacher motivation (p < 0.05). These findings confirm that strengthening the communication, relational, and collaboration capacities of ECE principals is a key strategy in improving the quality of early childhood education. This study contributes to the development of a relational leadership model in ECE and provides practical implications for the professional development of ECE principals.