Natural Material Collage As An Innovative Strategy To Improve Fine Motor Skills And Creativity Of Early Childhood

Nurrochmah

Authors

Nurrochmah State Islamic University Professor Kiai Haji Saifudin Zuhri, Purwokerto

Keywords:

natural material collage, fine motor skills, creativity, early childhood education, classroom action research

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of natural material collage activities as an innovative strategy to improve fine motor skills and creativity in early childhood. The research employed a qualitative approach with a classroom action research (CAR) design, following the Kemmis and McTaggart model, which consists of four stages: planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. The study was conducted in two cycles at TK MNU Diponegoro 111 Ajibarang, Banyumas Regency, involving 15 children in Group B (8 boys and 7 girls) during the 2024/2025 academic year. Data were collected through observation, documentation, and teacher reflection. The results showed a significant improvement in children’s fine motor abilities and creative expression after the implementation of collage activities using natural materials such as dried leaves, seeds, and eggshells. The average fine motor skill level increased from 47% in the initial observation, to 62% in Cycle I, and 85% in Cycle II, indicating a 38% overall improvement. Children became more skillful in controlling hand and finger movements, more attentive, and increasingly independent in creating their artworks. The findings demonstrate that natural material collage activities not only strengthen fine motor coordination but also foster creativity, concentration, environmental awareness, and self-confidence. Therefore, this learning strategy can be considered an effective, engaging, and environmentally friendly approach to enhancing the quality of early childhood education.

References

Arikunto, S. (2019). Prosedur Penelitian: Suatu Pendekatan Praktik. Jakarta: Rineka Cipta.

Berk, L. E. (2020). Child Development (10th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education.

Bredekamp, S., & Copple, C. (2019). Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs (4th ed.). Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Craft, A. (2017). Creativity and Early Years Education: A Lifewide Foundation. London: Routledge.

Depdikbud. (2014). Peraturan Menteri Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Republik Indonesia Nomor 137 Tahun 2014 tentang Standar Nasional Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini. Jakarta: Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.

Erikson, E. H. (2018). Childhood and Society. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

Hurlock, E. B. (2019). Child Development (6th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.

Isbell, R., & Raines, S. C. (2017). Creativity and the Arts with Young Children (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.

Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (1992). The Action Research Planner. Geelong: Deakin University Press.

Mayar, F. (2013). Improving Children’s Creativity through Collage Activities in Kindergarten. Journal of Early Childhood Education, 2(1), 45–52.

Morrison, G. S. (2021). Early Childhood Education Today (15th ed.). New York: Pearson Education.

Rohayati, S. (2021). Utilization of Natural Materials in Learning for Early Childhood Education. Journal of Educational Innovation, 9(3), 110–118.

Sartika, D. (2020). The Use of Natural Materials in Early Childhood Art Learning to Enhance Environmental Awareness. Indonesian Journal of Early Childhood Education Studies, 8(2), 101–110.

Slamet, W. (2019). Collage Activity as a Media to Improve Fine Motor Skills of Early Childhood. Golden Age: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 3(1), 59–68.

Sujiono, Y. N. (2017). Konsep Dasar Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini. Jakarta: Indeks.

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Yuliani, S. (2018). Pengembangan Motorik Halus Anak Usia Dini melalui Kegiatan Kreatif. Bandung: Alfabeta.

Piaget, J. (1964). The Child’s Conception of the World. New York: Rowman & Littlefield.

Montessori, M. (2016). The Absorbent Mind. New York: Ballantine Books.

Edwards, C., Gandini, L., & Forman, G. (Eds.). (2012). The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Experience in Transformation (3rd ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.