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Tembang dolanan is a traditional Javanese song that contains life values. This tembang dolanan is used as a learning medium for children. This study aims to describe the meaning (denotation and connotation) of the tembang dolanan and the character education values contained in the tembang dolanan using a semiotic approach. This type of research is descriptive qualitative. The data of this research is in the form of phrases or clauses in the tembang dolanan, while the data source of this research is taken from three titles of the tembang dolanan, namely Wajibe Dadi Murid ‘the obligation to be a student’, Jam Pamulangan ‘lesson time’, and Gregeting Murid ‘the determination of students’. The results show that the tembang dolanan has a philosophical meaning that describes a child as being serious about studying. Tembang dolanan contains four character education values, namely religious, honesty, discipline, hard work, and responsibility. The four character education values are taught to children or students through traditional Javanese songs in the hope of instilling superior characters.

Javanese; character education; representation; semiotics; and tembang dolanan.