MOTOR DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY CHILDREN IN VARIOUS CULTURES IN INDONESIA

Abstract

Various factors, including culture, influence early childhood motor development, which is an important component of child development. Indonesia, with its cultural diversity, provides a rich context for studying differences in children's motor development. This study aims to review the existing literature on early childhood motor development across different cultures in Indonesia, particularly in Java, Madura, Papua and Bali. The article compares research results from the four cultures and provides a broad understanding of how cultural contexts influence early childhood motor development. This research uses a literature review. Using keywords such as “early childhood motor development”, “Javanese culture”, “Madurese culture”, “Papuan culture”, and “Balinese culture”, relevant literature was collected through searches in academic databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Indonesia OneSearch. Included articles were those published in the last two decades and focused on early childhood motor development in each of the four cultures. The review showed that in Java, traditional games such as “engklek” and “congklak” play a significant role in supporting fine and gross motor development. In Madura, parenting practices that involve physical activities such as taking children to the fields help improve gross motor skills. In Papua, active lifestyles and intense physical activities, such as walking long distances and climbing trees, accelerate the achievement of gross motor milestones. While in Bali, participation in traditional dance and handicraft making supports children's fine and gross motor development. The conclusion is that cultural elements play a significant role in early childhood motor development in Indonesia. To maximize children's development within their respective cultural contexts, educators, parents and health professionals should have an understanding of these cultural influences. Recommendations for further research and culturally appropriate intervention programs are also presented.