Children's social behavior includes their ability to interact positively with others, understand social norms, and manage emotions and behavior in social contexts. These social competencies are important for children's social and emotional development and academic and interpersonal success. According to Ivan, parents play a key role in developing their children's social behavior. Through daily interactions, parents provide direct examples of communicating politely, resolving conflicts peacefully, and showing empathy and concern for others. In addition, values such as honesty, responsibility, and respect taught by parents become an important foundation for children in building healthy social relationships. Support and consistent parental supervision also help children learn to manage emotions and act according to social norms to adapt to various social situations in the family and community [33] ,

Honesty education in children is a learning process that aims to instill honest values and attitudes in children from an early age so that they are accustomed to telling the truth, acting according to reality, and taking responsibility for their actions [34] . This education includes the prohibition of lying and encourages children to be open, not hide mistakes, and dare to admit the truth despite the risk of consequences [35] . Honesty education usually begins in the family environment, through real examples from parents who are honest in word and deed [36] . In addition, honesty is reinforced at school through rules, teacher guidance, and activities that foster integrity, such as group assignments, selfevaluation, or discussions of moral values. With consistent and sustainable honesty education, children will grow into individuals who are trusted, respected, and able to build healthy social relationships in the future [37] .

Exemplary education in female migrant families instills moral and social values in children through real-life examples, especially when the mother, as the central figure, is not present in person because she works abroad [38]. In this condition, role modeling relies heavily on substitute caregivers, such as fathers, grandmothers, or close relatives who live with the child. Role models include positive behaviors such as telling the truth, being disciplined, being responsible, respecting others, and solving problems without violence. Children tend to imitate what they see, not just what they hear. Therefore, caregivers must be able to provide consistent examples that reflect the good values that parents [39]. In addition, exemplary education in female migrant families must be supported by active communication between the migrant mother and the child. Although physically separated, mothers can still play the role of role models through messages, video calls, or recordings containing advice and reinforcement of moral values. In this way, children still feel emotionally and morally connected to their mothers. The role modeling delivered directly by the caregiver at home and reinforced by the mother from afar will help children form a strong social and moral identity so that they continue to grow into individuals with good character, even though they are in a family situation that is far away [40].

Education is a systematic effort to instill the values of faith, morals, and noble character derived from religious teachings to shape the child's personality to be faithful, ethical, and responsible [41] . This education starts early in the family through habituation to worship, introducing daily prayers, reading the holy book, and instilling values such as honesty, compassion, and mutual respect. Parents are very important as role models in carrying out religious teachings because children tend to imitate the behavior they see every day [42] . Religious education also directs children in facing life's problems and forms a moral foundation in behavior and action. In addition to the role of the family, formal education institutions and the social environment also contribute to strengthening children's religious education. Schools and places of worship can provide a more systematic and structured understanding of religion while providing space for children to interact socially with religious values [43] . Religious lectures, religious education classes, and social activities based on religious values can foster social care, empathy, and responsibility [44] . With integrated and sustainable religious education, children grow spiritually and develop into moral individuals, able to respect differences and be active in the social environment in a positive way [45] .

Based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) results, religious education emerges as the top priority in shaping children's social behavior in families of female workers. The importance of spiritual education is highlighted by its position as the second priority in the AHP analysis, which focuses on developing children's social behavior in these families. Religious education emphasizes spiritual aspects that govern human relationships with God and individual interactions. It plays a crucial role within families, as parents are encouraged to implement it in hopes that children will exhibit obedient behavior towards Allah. Additionally, religious education can serve as a strategy for instilling good values within the family. The criteria for religious education focus on three main aspects, which are presented as alternatives and analyzed using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP): C2: Encourage children to participate in religious practices, including prayer, study groups, and reading the Koran.

Information:

Inconsistency Value: 0,01

C1: Develop knowledge of religious teachings about values, practices, and traditions in religion.

C2: Encourage children to participate in religious practices, including prayer, study groups, and reading the Koran.

C3: Apply religious values in daily life, relationships with others, and one's relationship with God.

The criteria for religious education in Figure 1, based on AHP analysis, showed an inconsistency value below 0,1 (0,01 < 0,1), indicating that the responses from the key informants were consistent. Applying religious values in life—in relationships with others and God—is the highest-priority alternative, with a weight value of 0,475, or 47,50%. Applying religious values in life—in relationships with others and God—is one of the most important aspects for children to adopt. However, in reality, many children from families of female migrant workers struggle to maintain their relationships with God and with others. These children often have a shallow perception of the importance of maintaining a relationship with Allah. The role of parents significantly influences children's behavior. However, many parents neglect to instill religious values in their children's lives, resulting in children becoming distant from God and disregarding the positive teachings of religion [56], [57].

Encouraging and teaching children to participate in religious practices, including prayer, attending religious studies, and reading the Qur'an, is the second-highest priority alternative, weighing 0,388, or 38,8%. Despite the importance placed on these practices, many children still struggle with reading the Qur'an fluently and have not consistently performed their prayers, indicating that parents are not fully implementing these religious practices in their children's lives [58] . Parents play a crucial role in the success of religious education for children, yet their involvement is often insufficient. Many children who need guidance at home are left with mothers who work as migrant workers, while the father's role is usually perceived as less effective due to his focus on earning a living outside the home. As a result, children become distanced from religious values, negatively impacting their behavior and interactions within the family and society [59] .

The third priority alternative is to increase children's knowledge of religious values and practices, weighing 0,137, or 13,7%. Knowledge of religion is crucial for children, especially in today's challenges, which include rapid societal changes and complex social relationships. It is concerning that many children no longer view religion as a shield or protector against negative influences and harmful behaviors. Knowledge of religion is essential for parents to teach within the family. However, in many families of female workers, children are still found who lack religious knowledge. This is evident in the number of children who cannot read the Qur'an correctly and in the minimal understanding of the importance of obligatory prayers. Additionally, parental presence plays a significant role in shaping children's behavior and religious knowledge. If a child is undisciplined in worship and lacks a sense of responsibility, they may grow up with a gap in their spiritual understanding. Therefore, religious education, especially regarding knowledge, is crucial in helping children protect themselves from ignorance [60] .

Based on the results of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), exemplary education is the second priority criterion in shaping children's social behavior in the families of female migrant workers. Exemplary education is an important strategy to support the development of children's social behavior in the family. Three alternative criteria for exemplary education will be analyzed using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The results of the AHP calculation for the exemplary education criteria are as follows:

Information:

Inconsistency Value: 0,00471

B1: Parents show empathy and concern for their children's needs.

B2: Effective communication means parents use polite language.

B3: Appreciation of positive values; parents demonstrate the values of hard work, honesty, and respect.

Figure 2 shows that, based on the AHP analysis conducted on the exemplary education criteria, an inconsistency value below 0,1 (0,00471 < 0.1) was obtained, indicating that the responses from the key informants are consistent. Based on interviews with parents of female migrant workers, it was found that children in these families have limited role models. Many children cannot provide positive examples because their parents do not exhibit positive behavior. As a result, these children become accustomed to negative behaviors that can impact their lives. Furthermore, children’s behavior is influenced by their parents' daily actions. For instance, parents may neglect to perform congregational prayers at the mosque, fail to speak politely in front of their children, or show a lack of discipline in managing time and fulfilling responsibilities at home. Interviews with children also reveal that, without positive role models, they often imitate the behavior they observe from their parents.

The highest-priority alternative is an appreciation for positive values, with parents demonstrating attitudes of hard work, honesty, and respect through daily actions, which weighs 0,435, or 43,5%. However, there is still a lack of exemplary behavior among children within the family, resulting in many children overlooking the importance of role modeling. The exemplary behaviors demonstrated by parents have not been fully implemented by the children, which negatively affects the quality of children's behavior and contributes to a decline in their overall development. Effective communication, mainly through polite language within the family, is crucial in shaping children's social behavior. However, children cannot apply this in their daily lives. Regarding good manners, many children still use impolite language with their parents at home and in the community. This highlights the need for parents to actively model exemplary behavior by consistently using polite language and making it a habit for their children. Children must be taught the importance of respectful language, with parents serving as the primary role models. If parents display negative behavior in front of their children, these actions become examples for children to imitate.

The second priority alternative is effective communication, which involves parents using polite language, with a weight value of 0,298, or 29,8%. The third priority alternative is respect for positive values, with parents demonstrating hard work, honesty, and respect, carrying a weight of 0,267, or 26,7%. Modeling behavior is one of the most important aspects of shaping children's behavior within the family. Children are introduced to a positive culture when exemplary behavior is consistently practiced. However, if parents allow negative behaviors to become habitual in their children's lives, they are also likely to adopt these bad habits. Therefore, parents must continuously strive to model values such as hard work, honesty, and respect to foster good habits in their children so that children can imitate and fully apply what they observe in their parents at home [61] .

The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) results show that honesty education is the lowest priority criterion in shaping children's social behavior in female migrant worker families, following religious education and exemplary education. Honesty education is essential in supporting children's behavior in the family. The importance of implementing honesty education in children's lives is to ensure they do not lie, speak honestly, and remain consistent in their statements. Therefore, honesty education is an essential strategy in shaping children's behavior in the family. The results of the AHP analysis of the criteria for honesty education are as follows:

Information:

Inconsistency Value: 0,00424

A1: Honesty in speaking encourages children to express what they truly believe.

A2: Consistency between words and actions fosters children's honesty and self-consistency.

A3: Courage to admit mistakes without fear or shame.

The results of the AHP analysis in Figure 3 show that the criteria for honesty education obtained an inconsistency value below 0,1 (0,00424 < 0,1), indicating that the responses from the key informants are consistent. The highest-priority alternative in the criteria for honesty education is consistency between words and actions, with a weight of 0,469, or approximately 46,9%. This consistency is essential for encouraging children to behave honestly and demonstrate self-consistency within the family environment and the broader community. Parents have not fully nurtured honest behavior in children, and parental involvement in children's honesty education remains very low. Some parents in female worker families fail to recognize the importance of honest education, often prioritizing material needs over developing their children's behavioral values. Additionally, when a mother leaves to work abroad as a migrant worker, and the father is often absent due to work commitments, the children's behavioral education is not fully supported, leading to suboptimal outcomes.

The second priority alternative is honesty in speaking, which involves parents encouraging children to tell the truth, with a weight value of 0,302, or approximately 30,2%. Honesty in speaking is crucial as it helps parents train their children to be truthful. For children in migrant worker families, dishonesty is a common behavioral issue, particularly when it comes to admitting mistakes or constantly making excuses to avoid responsibility. The absence of parents, especially mothers who work abroad as migrant workers, has a significant negative impact on the development of children's behavior. The final priority alternative is the courage to admit mistakes, with a weight value of 0,230, or approximately 23%. Teaching children the courage to admit mistakes helps them develop the confidence to speak openly without fear or shame. However, observations and interviews revealed that many children still fear making mistakes. They often believe they lack the courage to acknowledge their errors, even when the mistake is minor. The fear of admitting mistakes often leads children to express dishonesty. Children may justify their actions or offer excuses to avoid guilt and blame. This lack of courage in children, as seen by parents, is common and is often coupled with a lack of effort to encourage children to be brave in telling the truth.

Problems within female workers' families, particularly those involving parents, significantly impact the quality of children's behavior. Parents who lack a deep understanding of children's education often view dishonest behavior as a common issue in all families, and they do not take more meaningful or in-depth actions to address problematic behavior. For many parents, offering essential advice to their children feels like sufficient education on behavioral issues. However, children frequently repeat the same mistakes even after receiving guidance.

This research employs the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to establish a priority scale for strategies to develop children's social behavior in the Langgudu sub-district, Bima Regency. The criteria and alternatives are assessed using AHP, based on direct observations and interviews with key personnel who have experience and direct contact with child behavior issues in the families of working mothers. The key participants in this research included the Bima Regency Social Service, the Bima Regency Manpower and Transmigration Service, and the parents and children from families of working mothers. These participants contributed to developing the criteria and alternatives used in the analysis. The requirements include honesty, exemplary, and religious education, with three options for each. The calculation results from the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) were obtained using Expert Choice 11 software, and the findings are as follows: Inconsistency Value: 0,01

Inconsistency Value: 0,01

Based on Figure 4, the inconsistency value is 0,01, indicating that the responses from the key informants are consistent, as the value is below 0,1. The criteria for religious education have the highest weight, 0,421 (42,1%), making religious education the most prioritized factor in the strategy for shaping children's social behavior in migrant worker families. The criteria for exemplary education rank second, with a weight value of 0.294 (29,4%), while honesty education is ranked third, with a weight value of 0,285 (28,5%).

Based on the AHP calculations of all alternative strategies for shaping children's social behavior in families, conducted using the Expert Choice 11 program, the following results were obtained:

Information:

Inconsistency Value: 0,01

A1: Parents encourage honesty in speaking to ensure that children tell the truth.

A2: Consistency between words and actions is emphasized so children develop honesty and self-consistency.

A3: Encouraging courage in admitting mistakes without fear or shame.

B1: Parents demonstrate empathy and concern for their children's needs within the family.

B2: Effective communication involves parents speaking to children using appropriate and polite language while listening attentively.

B3: Respect for positive values is shown as parents exhibit behaviors of hard work, honesty, and respect through daily actions.

C1: Developing children's knowledge of religious teachings focuses on the values of religious practices and traditions.

C2: Encouraging active participation in worship practices, such as prayer services, attending Islamic studies, and reading the Koran.

C3: Applying religious values in life to help children practice these values in daily interactions with others and their relationship with the Creator.

Therefore, religious education should be prioritized to shape children's social behavior in female worker families, as it holds the most tremendous significance compared to the other criteria. The next step is to rank each criterion from most to least prioritized and the alternatives associated with each criterion. Each criterion has several alternatives, each with different levels of priority. These alternatives have advantages and disadvantages, which will complement and synergize to shape children's social behavior within the family. The next step is to rank each criterion from most to least prioritized and the alternatives associated with each criterion. Each criterion has several alternatives, each with different levels of priority. These alternatives have advantages and disadvantages, which will complement and synergize to shape children's social behavior within the family.

The criteria for exemplary education include three alternatives: first, parents demonstrate empathy and concern for the needs of children in the family; second, effective communication, where parents speak to children using polite language and listen attentively; and third, appreciation for positive values, with parents showing hard work, honesty, and respect through their daily actions.

The criteria for exemplary education include three alternatives: first, parents demonstrate empathy and concern for the needs of children in the family; second, effective communication, where parents speak to children using polite language and listen attentively; and third, appreciation for positive values, with parents showing hard work, honesty, and respect through their daily actions. Based on Figure 5, the results of the AHP analysis show an inconsistency value of 0,01, indicating that the responses from the key informants are consistent. The highest-priority alternative is the application of religious values in daily life, enabling children to apply these values in their relationships with others and their creator. This alternative has a weight value of 0,194 or approximately 19,4%. In practice, however, parents’ application of religious education remains very low in families of female workers. In addition to limited knowledge, there is a lack of practical education on religious values for children.

Parents strongly desire their children to exhibit good behavior; however, the lack of knowledge and inadequate exemplary education prevent children from fully applying religious teachings. As a result, the development of children's behavior is hindered. Additionally, habits such as performing prayers, reading the Qur'an, and attending Islamic studies are no longer seen in children from female worker families. Instead, children tend to spend more time playing and socializing with friends, and parents are not strict in enforcing religious education. The second priority alternative is to pay attention to and teach children to actively participate in religious practices, including praying, attending Islamic studies, and reading the Qur'an, with a weight value of 0,158, or approximately 15,8%. Teaching children about religion is crucial as part of implementing religious teachings. However, parents often pay little attention to this and fail to actively teach their children about religious practices. Efforts are typically limited to advising without being accompanied by exemplary behavior in religious observance.

The third priority alternative is appreciating positive values, such as parents demonstrating hard work, honesty, and respect through their daily actions, with a weight value of 0,136, or approximately 13,6%. Based on field observations, the value of hard work in parents is particularly evident in families of female workers, as these families are generally lower-middle class, and the parents are often hardworking. While the value of honesty is also observed in parents, reinforcement of this value through guidance is rarely provided. As a result, the application of honesty in children's behavior has not been fully realized. It is common for children to lie, make excuses, or avoid admitting their mistakes to escape feelings of guilt or blame. This pattern persists due to the lack of parental affirmation and discipline regarding the importance of religious education in the children's lives.

The final priority alternative in the overall analysis is the consistency between words and actions, essential for fostering honesty and self-consistency in children, with a weight value of 0,131, or approximately 13,1%. Based on interviews with families of female workers, consistency between words and actions remains very low. This is evident in children who often avoid responsibility for their mistakes, frequently offering explanations that are not truthful. The role of parents in fostering honesty in children is also minimal. This is particularly concerning, as children who need guidance and support within the family are often left behind by mothers working as female migrant workers abroad. Additionally, fathers' time is limited due to their often being occupied with earning a living outside the home, which leaves children's behavior falling short of the expected standards.

The social behavior of children is largely influenced by their family environment, especially during early developmental stages. This study focuses on the specific context of female migrant worker families, where maternal figures are often absent due to economic obligations. Based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) results, religious education emerged as the top priority strategy in shaping children’s social behavior, followed by exemplary education and honesty education. This hierarchy provides valuable insights into how families can respond effectively to the challenges posed by maternal migration while still fostering moral development.

The prioritization of religious education, particularly the application of spiritual values in daily life, is deeply aligned with Islamic teachings. Islam emphasizes the concept of tarbiyyah, which goes beyond formal instruction to include character formation through everyday actions and ethical guidance. Values such as iman (faith), taqwa (God-consciousness), and akhlaq (noble character) are critical in molding children's behavior, especially in the absence of a maternal figure. The family, even in its altered structure, remains a key agent in transmitting these values. The study supports this by showing that spiritual practices—such as prayer, recitation, and acts of kindness—can instill a sense of discipline, empathy, and social responsibility in children. Exemplary education, ranked second, also holds strong Islamic relevance. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is described in the Qur’an as a model of excellent character (uswatun hasanah), emphasizing the importance of leading by example. Parents, guardians, or caregivers must embody values such as honesty, hard work, and patience, as children tend to emulate behavior more than they respond to verbal instruction.

Honesty education, though ranked third, remains essential. Islam stresses the unity of words and deeds, as reflected in the concept of sidq (truthfulness). Teaching children to align speech with action fosters integrity and self-consistency—traits that support both individual development and societal trust. In relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this study contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing a framework for value-based learning at home, and to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by acknowledging the dual roles of women as economic actors and moral educators. It also aligns with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by promoting ethical upbringing as a foundation for just societies. Overall, this analysis shows that integrating Islamic values into a structured strategy, supported by AHP, offers an effective and culturally resonant method for shaping children's social ethics in migrant contexts—bridging faith, family, and development in a unified framework.