Improving Children’s Cognitive Abilities through Hijaiyah Letter Puzzle Media in RA Perwanida 1 Banyuwangi

Abstrak

Early childhood cognitive development, particularly in recognizing Hijaiyah letter symbols, requires appropriate stimulation through engaging and enjoyable learning media. This study aimed to enhance the cognitive abilities of children aged 4–5 years in recognizing Hijaiyah letters through the use of Hijaiyah letter puzzle media at RA Perwanida 1 Banyuwangi. The study employed Classroom Action Research (CAR) based on the Kemmis and McTaggart model, consisting of three stages: pre-cycle, Cycle I, and Cycle II, with ten children participating. During the pre-cycle stage, learning activities using picture media yielded suboptimal results, with a mastery level of only 37.5%. Following the implementation of Hijaiyah letter puzzle media in Cycle I, the mastery level increased to 62.5%, and further improved to 87.5% in Cycle II. Observational findings indicated a significant improvement in children’s ability to recognize the shapes, distinctive characteristics, and meanings of Hijaiyah letters, as well as increased learning enthusiasm. The findings demonstrate that play-based learning using puzzle media effectively stimulates early childhood cognitive development. This study concludes that Hijaiyah letter puzzle media significantly enhances early childhood cognitive skills in recognizing Hijaiyah letters and is highly recommended for application in early childhood education settings.