Comparing the Manipulative Movement of Preschool Children in Religious and Conventional Education Settings

Abstract

This study aims to identify manipulative skills, also known as object control, and compare them across preschoolers aged 4 to 5 who attend religious and secular schools. The TGMD-2 instrument is used in this study along with descriptive quantitative and qualitative approaches. Purposive random sampling was used to get samples from 75 girls and 86 boys enrolled in traditional and religious-based kindergartens in urban locations between the ages of 4 and 5. It was determined from the study's findings that children who attended conventional kindergartens had better manipulative skills (Girls; av. Score: 23,46 with p=0,645; Boys; av. Score: 23,60 with (p=0,431) than those who attended religiously based education (Girls; av. Score: 23,00 with p=0,603; Boys; av score: 21,52 with p=0,568). It can be concluded that there are not many differences between the two educational systems when comparing them because in Indonesia, there are no preschool teachers specializing in physical education. Classroom teachers are required to teach kids outside, and no studies have been done on this issue. Schools with a religious bent emphasize cognitive skills more. Structured gross motor learning through physical education in schools and support for home play equipment can regularly enhance children's manipulating abilities.