Rukmini, Mustaji, Andi Mariono
Children’s fine motor development is in line with neurodevelopment as indicated by the child’s ability to squeeze, grasp, and hold small objects with their fingers, while cognitive development relates to their intelligence. This study is a pre-experimental study with a one-group pre- and post-test design conducted on children ages 5 to 6. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of playdough games in stimulating children’s fine motor skills and cognitive skill development; hence, it is possibly implemented as a learning medium in early childhood education. Results show that the playdough game can stimulate children’s fine motor skills and cognitive skills, which is proved by a 20.6 percent decline in children with poor fine motor development and 37.25 percent on the average increase of children’s understanding in symbols, numbers and letters. Both indicate that using playdough games as a learning strategy in early childhood education is provably effective in improving children’s fine motor and cognitive development. © Common Ground Research Networks, Rukmini, Mustaji, Andi Mariono, All Rights Reserved.
Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia
