The Effectiveness Of The ‘Isi Piringku’ Flannel Board Media In Developing The Cognitive Skills Of Young Children In Classifying Healthy Foods At The Tarbiyah Islamiyah Nursery School In Tanjung Agung

Abstract

Early Childhood Education (ECE) plays a crucial role in forming cognitive foundations and healthy living habits. However, initial observations at RA Tarbiyah Islamiyah Tanjung Agung revealed a significant gap, where 17 out of 20 children in Group A preferred processed foods and struggled to classify healthy foods. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of using the "Isi Piringku" flannel board media in improving children's cognitive skills in sorting healthy foods. The method used was a quasi-experiment with a Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design. The research sample consisted of 40 children in Group A, divided into an experimental group (n=20) and a control group (n=20) through purposive sampling. Data collection instruments included cognitive performance tests and observation sheets, which were tested for validity (Aiken’s V > 0.80) and reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.87). Data analysis was conducted using Independent and Paired Sample T-Tests, Normalized Gain (N-Gain) calculations, and Effect Size (Cohen’s d). The results showed a significant increase in the average cognitive skill scores of the experimental group, from 45.50 (pretest) to 84.25 (posttest), while the control group only increased from 46.00 to 62.75. Hypothesis testing showed a significance value of p < 0.001, with an N-Gain value for the experimental group of 0.71 (high category) and Cohen’s d of 1.45 (large effect). These findings confirm that the concrete, visual, and manipulative nature of the "Isi Piringku" flannel board media effectively bridges the gap between abstract nutritional concepts and the pre-operational cognitive developmental stage of early childhood, while also supporting the internalization of the 7 Great Indonesian Children's Habits (7 KAIH) movement.