Active Play Beyond the Classroom: How Extracurricular Engagement Shapes Gross Motor Skills in 5-6 Year Old Children

Abstract

Extracurricular activities are student activities outside class hours which aim to develop children's potential. Gross motor skills are abilities that require coordination of most parts of a child's body. This study aims to: 1) describe extracurricular activities on the gross motor development of children aged 5-6 years. 2) Know the steps taken by extracurricular activities on the gross motor development of children aged 5-6 years. 3) Knowing the obstacles to extracurricular activities on the gross motor development of children aged 5-6 years at Kindergarten Kartika XIV-3 Lhokseumawe. This research uses a qualitative approach and this type of research uses descriptive research. The data collection techniques used in this research are observation, interviews and documentation. Data analysis techniques use data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results of this study show that extracurricular activities for the development of gross motor skills in children aged 5-6 years are very good for children. Then the steps that must be considered in extracurricular activities are: facilities and infrastructure, teaching basic movement and hitting skills, providing supervision, evaluation, and involving parents in the activity process. Furthermore, the obstacles faced by children are still being afraid to try and there are still parents who forbid their children from taking part in extracurricular activities.