Peningkatan Kemampuan Kognitif Anak Usia 5 - 6 Tahun Melalui Media Bahan Alam di TK Bina Karya Kota Surabaya

Improving The Cognitive Abilities Of Childern Aged 5 - 6 Years Through Natural Materials At Bina Karya Kindergarten In Surabaya

    Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh rendahnya pemahaman anak usia 5–6 tahun terhadap konsep bilangan di TK Bina Karya Kota Surabaya, akibat minimnya variasi media pembelajaran yang digunakan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk meningkatkan kemampuan kognitif anak dalam memahami konsep bilangan melalui media bahan alam. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode Penelitian Tindakan Kelas (PTK) model Kemmis & McTaggart dalam dua siklus. Tempat penelitian dilakukan di TK Bina Karya, Kecamatan Krembangan, Kota Surabaya. Subjek penelitian adalah 15 anak kelompok B. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan observasi, dokumentasi, dan wawancara. Instrumen penelitian berupa lembar observasi guru dan anak, serta dokumentasi kegiatan. Analisis data dilakukan secara kuantitatif deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya peningkatan kemampuan anak dalam mengenal lambang bilangan dan menghubungkannya dengan jumlah benda, dari 56,6% pada siklus I menjadi 83,3% pada siklus II. Aktivitas guru dan anak juga mengalami peningkatan dari 68,75% menjadi 87,5%. Simpulan dari penelitian ini adalah bahwa media bahan alam seperti biji jagung dan stik es krim terbukti efektif meningkatkan kemampuan kognitif anak. Saran diberikan agar guru PAUD dapat memanfaatkan lingkungan sekitar sebagai sumber belajar yang kontekstual dan menarik.

Kata kunci: kemampuan kognitif, konsep bilangan, media bahan alam, anak usia dini, PAUD, PTK. 

    This study was motivated by the low level of understanding of 5–6-year-old children regarding number concepts at Bina Karya Kindergarten in Surabaya, due to the lack of variety in the learning media used. The purpose of this study was to improve children's cognitive abilities in understanding number concepts through natural media. This study used the Classroom Action Research (CAR) method developed by Kemmis & McTaggart in two cycles. The research was conducted at Bina Karya Kindergarten, Krembangan District, Surabaya City. The research subjects were 15 children in Group B. Data collection techniques included observation, documentation, and interviews. Research instruments consisted of teacher and child observation sheets, as well as activity documentation. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive quantitative methods. The results showed an increase in children's ability to recognize number symbols and relate them to the number of objects, from 56.6% in cycle I to 83.3% in cycle II. Teacher and child activities also improved from 68.75% to 87.5%. The conclusion of this study is that natural materials such as corn kernels and ice cream sticks are effective in enhancing children's cognitive abilities. Recommendations are provided for early childhood education teachers to utilize the surrounding environment as a contextual and engaging learning resource.

Keywords: cognitive abilities, number concepts, natural materials, young children, early childhood education, action research.