The Effect of Modifying the Traditional Hip-Hap Matras Game on the Physical and Motor Development of Children Aged 5–6 Years

Abstract

Physical-motor development is an important aspect of early childhood education that requires stimulation through safe and enjoyable play activities. This study aimed to determine the effect of a modified traditional patok lele game based on the Hip-Hap Mat on early childhood physical-motor development. The study employed a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental method using a one-group pretest-posttest design. The participants consisted of 20 children aged 5–6 years selected through purposive sampling. The research instrument was an observation sheet developed based on the indicators of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-Second Edition (PDMS-2), covering stationary, locomotion, object manipulation, grasping, and visual-motor integration aspects. The treatment was conducted through Hip-Hap Mat and Hip-Hap Jump activities over eight meetings. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired sample t-test. The results showed an improvement in children’s physical-motor abilities, with the average pretest score increasing from 55.4% to 82.6% in the posttest. Improvements were observed in balance, locomotor skills, hand-eye coordination, and manipulative movement control. These findings indicate that the Hip-Hap Mat-based traditional game modification positively affects early childhood physical-motor development and has the potential to become an innovative and contextual learning medium in early childhood education.