Development of social skill training design for preschool in social distancing pandemic COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: The low level of social skills during the social distancing period triggers high levels of aggression in children. Teachers and parents find teaching difficult because of their limited knowledge and the pandemic situation. Therefore, teachers and parents must be trained to develop children's social skills proportionally. Training children's social skills should be done face-to-face because it is related to the ability to modify behaviour. Of course, this cannot be done, so it is necessary to design training designs in such a way as to deliver digital-based learning, namely virtual learning. This research aims to develop a social skills training design for preschools during the social distancing pandemic of COVID-19. Methods: The research method using Research and Development (R&D) refers to the ADDIE research development model: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation, which aims to produce an effective training design to develop early childhood social skills for teachers and parents through digital-based learning, namely virtual learning. Results: The design has been tested and validated by 3 experts; experts in the field of character education, linguists, and experts in educational technology both quantitatively and qualitatively and has met the acceptability criteria. Therefore, design training has proved effective in improving the competence of teachers and parents in developing the social skills of children ages early during social distancing. These results can be seen from the activities of the trainers and trainees on the implementation of the training in the very good category, said to be practically based on the positive responses of the trainees (teachers and parents) in the very good category, can increase the knowledge and competence of participants based on the results of the learning evaluation. Conclusion: The design training has proved effective in improving the competence of teachers and parents in developing the social skills of children ages early during social distancing.