Improving the Competence of Early Childhood Education Teachers in Developing Natural Material-Based Educational Play Media to Stimulate Early Childhood Development

Abstract

Early childhood development is greatly influenced by stimulation provided through play activities. Unfortunately, not all Early Childhood Education (PAUD) teachers possess optimal competency in developing contextual and environmentally friendly educational play media. This community service initiative stems from the low utilization of natural materials in developing PAUD learning media, despite the abundance of local resources. The objective of this activity is to improve the capacity of PAUD teachers in designing and using educational play media based on natural materials as a tool for stimulating child development. This activity utilizes a participatory training approach, with materials covering child development theory, educational play concepts, and practical applications for creating media from natural materials. Piaget's cognitive development theory and a contextual learning approach form the theoretical basis of this program. Evaluation was conducted through pre- and post-tests, as well as observations of practical skills. Results demonstrated significant improvements in teachers' understanding and skills after the training. Fieldwork demonstrated participants' enthusiasm and creativity in producing media based on natural materials such as stones, leaves, seeds, and clay. In conclusion, this training significantly contributed to improving the competence of PAUD teachers and encouraged enjoyable, natural, and meaningful learning for early childhood.