Developing Children's Social Skills Through Traditional Games (A Case Study on Children Aged 4-6 Years in Developing Social Skills at ABA 1 Kindergarten, Sukabumi City)

Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of traditional games on the development of social skills in children aged 4–6 years at Aisyiyah Bustanul Athfal (ABA) 1 Kindergarten in Sukabumi City. This study used a qualitative methodology with a case study design. This study included 17 children aged 4-6 years who were actively engaged in learning activities centered on local content. Data collection was conducted through participant observation, teacher interviews, and documentation of educational activities. The analysis involved the triangulation of sources and methodologies to guarantee the validity of the data. The study findings indicate that the traditional game of engklek significantly improves the social skills of children aged 4–6 years at Aisyiyah Bustanul Athfal (ABA) 1 Kindergarten in Sukabumi City. Children demonstrated improvements in collaboration, communication, empathy, turn-taking, adherence to game rules, and conflict resolution. Furthermore, hopscotch encouraged active participation, cooperative behavior, and improved social relationships among peers. These findings confirm that integrating traditional games into early childhood education preserves local culture and effectively enhances the development of social skills in early childhood.Humans were divinely designed as social beings, necessitating the companionship of others in daily existence. Moreover, individuals necessitate social competencies for everyday interpersonal engagements. Social skills enhance an individual's ability to articulate feelings and address challenges, thereby promoting the identification of suitable solutions and averting potential harm to themselves and others. Childhood is a critical moment for stimulation across all aspects of development; the early stages of a child's existence are essential for their growth. The advancement of children's social competencies and skills is intrinsically linked to their growth and development. Traditional games can serve as a means to cultivate social skills in early infancy. In childhood, numerous traditional games can be engaged in, including jump rope, hide and seek, sorodot gaplok, bebentengan, galah asin, langlayang, and congklak. Children residing in housing typically favor modern games such as Lego, digital games, and PlayStation (PS), which generally engage only 2-3 participants. This study utilized a qualitative approach with a case study design, including data collection methods such as observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis approaches employed triangulation methods. The findings indicated that traditional games offer substantial advantages in all aspects of early childhood development, encompassing cognitive, affective, socio-emotional, and social competencies. Moreover, traditional games significantly contribute to character development in children and promote their engagement in social activities and peer relationships, so indirectly enhancing social capacities and shaping social skills during early infancy