PLAY PRETEND AS A MEDIA AND LEARNING RESOURCE TO ENHANCE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN AGED 18-60 MONTHS

Abstract

Family is the smallest unit in society that can be a source and medium of learning for children, especially toddlers, as it is their first social environment. This research design is cross -sectional, where the researcher collects data on using play pretend by distributing questionnaires to mothers. Simultaneously, the researcher collects data on the social and emotional development of children aged 18-60 months by assessing their social and emotional development. The population in this study are all mothers who have children aged 18-60 months in Dukuhmojo Village, Mojoagung District, Jombang Regency. The sampling technique used in this study is total sampling, where the sample is taken by making the entire population the object of research. The sample in this study are all mothers who have children aged 18-60 months in Dukuhmojo Village, Mojoagung District, Jombang Regency. The instrument used in this study is a questionnaire. This research was conducted in Dukuhmojo Village, Mojoagung District, Jombang Regency in July 2024. Data processing was done by editing, coding, scoring, tab ulating, and data analysis using cross-tabulation in Microsoft Excel. Then, the research results were interpreted with percentages. The results showed that 23 (77%) respondents who conducted play pretend positively had positive social and emotional development. Pretend play can provide an opportunity for children to explore their emotions, where children can recognize their feelings and regulate and control their emotions better. Children will also be able to realize that others have different beliefs, intentions, thoughts, and feelings.