Enhancing Fine Motor Skills in Early Childhood Education Programs Through Playing the Traditional Congklak Game: A Quantitative Study

Abstract

The Traditional Congklak game, a popular activity in Indonesia, has potential benefits for enhancing fine motor skills in early childhood education. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Congklak game in improving fine motor skills among early childhood education students. Materials and methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with children from four Early Childhood Education schools in Sawangan, Depok, West Java, Indonesia. Participants underwent pretest and posttest assessments to measure fine motor skills before and after the intervention. Results: The analysis of pretest and posttest scores revealed a statistically significant improvement in fine motor skills following the intervention, indicating the effectiveness of the Traditional Congklak game in enhancing these skills. Conclusion: The findings support the integration of play-based occupational therapy principles in early childhood education, highlighting the importance of personalized approaches to skill development. Despite limitations such as a small sample size and a short intervention period, the study concludes that the Traditional Congklak game can be a valuable tool for improving fine motor skills in early childhood settings. Future research should explore the long-term effects and broader demographic contexts to enhance the generalizability of the findings.