The Effect of the Cheerful Animal Dice Educational Game Tool on Early Childhood Numeracy Skills at Mawar Merah Early Childhood Education Center, Pasar Maga Village

Abstract

Early numeracy skills are one of the main pillars of early childhood cognitive development, but the reality at Mawar Merah PAUD, Pasar Maga Village shows that this ability is still not optimal due to reliance on conventional methods that are abstract and less interesting. This phenomenon requires an innovative solution in the form of the use of manipulative Educational Game Tools (APE), such as Cheerful Animal Dice, which can concretize the concept of numbers through fun play activities. This study aims to determine and empirically analyze the effect of the use of Cheerful Animal Dice APE on early childhood numeracy skills at Mawar Merah PAUD, Pasar Maga Village. This research approach uses a quantitative method with a quasi-experimental design in the form of a nonequivalent control group design. The sample used was 28 children, who were divided into an experimental group and a control group. Data collection techniques were carried out through structured observations and performance tests, while the data analysis technique used was the Independent Samples T-Test statistical test. The results of the hypothesis test showed a significant difference in early numeracy skills between the experimental and control groups. The experimental group using the Cheerful Animal Dice achieved a significantly higher and statistically significant increase in average scores (gain score) (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that the Cheerful Animal Dice Educational Game Tool has a positive and significant effect on improving early numeracy skills in early childhood at Mawar Merah Preschool in Pasar Maga Village.