The effect of playing playdough and collage on improving fine motor skills in early childhood in terms of independence

Abstract

Early childhood needs to get stimulation of fine motor skills, but most play models train gross motor skills. This study aims to find out: (1) the difference in the effect of playdough and collage play models on improving fine motor skills in early childhood. (2) the difference in the effect between high and low independence on improving fine motor skills in early childhood. (3) The interaction between playdough and collage playing models is viewed from the aspect of independence to improve early childhood fine motor skills. This type of research is an experiment using a 2 x 2 factorial design. The population in this study was 38 Yogyakarta National Kindergarten children. The sample in this study amounted to 20 children taken using purposive sampling criteria (1) specific children aged 5-6 years, (2) children who are actively attending school, (3) children who are not sick, (4) willing to follow the learning process (5) Able to follow all learning model programs that have been prepared, then ordinal pairing is carried out to divide each group. The instruments used to measure fine motor use are (1) pattern thickening test, (2) coloring test, (3) Patterning test (4) scissors test, (5) bead crocheting test with string thread. The data analysis technique used is ANOVA two-way. Among early childhood, playdough play models outperform collage play models with a high level of independence. Conversely, collage play models are better than playdough play models in improving fine motor skills in early childhood with low levels of independence. Children who have high independence are higher (good) than children who have low independence, with an average posttest difference of 2.1. There is an interaction between the playdough playing model and collage playing in terms of independence (high and low) to improve fine motor skills in early childhood, with an F value of 93.633 and a significance value of p 0.000 (< 0.05). With the results of this study can consider in determining the type of play model for early childhood. However, future research may be suggested to reconfirm these findings. Key Words: playdough, collage, independence, fine motor