Children's Skills Research Articles

An ensemble features aware machine learning model for detection and staging of dyslexia

<p>Dyslexia is a specific learning disorder (SLD) which may affect young child's cognitive skills, text comprehension, reading-writing and also problemsolving abilities. To diagnose and identify dyslexia, the testing scale tool has been proposed using artificial intelligence technique. The proposed tool allows the student who is suspected to have dyslexia to take up quiz and perform certain task based on the type of learning impairments. After completion of the test, resultant data is provided as input to the proposed ensemble feature aware machine-learning (EFAM) XGBoost (XGB) model. Based on the student assessment score and time taken by children, the EFAMXGB algorithm predicts dyslexia. The proposed EFAM-XGB is used to develop an integrated and user-friendly tool that is highly accurate in identifying reading disorders even with presence of realistic imbalanced dataset and suggest the most appropriate instructional activities to parents and teachers. The EFAM-XGB-based dyslexia detection method achieves very good accuracy of 98.7% for dyslexia dataset; thus, attain better performance in comparison with existing machine learning (ML)-based methodologies.</p>

The Effect of Wordwall Media on Early Childhood Language Skills at TKIT Al-Kaukaba

The purpose of the research is to determine the influence of wordwall media on early childhood language skills in TKIT Al-Kaukaba. This study uses a quantitative approach using a quasi-experimental method using a Nonequivalent control group design. In this study, the population taken was all children of group B TKIT Al-Kaukaba totaling 30 students. The sampling technique in this study is total sampling, while the samples taken are TKIT Al-Kaukaba students with B1 group students of 15 children as the experimental group and B2 group of 15 children as the control class. The instrument in this study is an observation sheet of children's language skills. The data analysis technique using the mean difference test for two paired samples (unpaired sample t-test) was carried out to assess the data using SPSS software. The results of the study showed that there was a difference in the level of children's language proficiency between children who obtained the wordwall method compared to students who did not obtain the wordwall method

Design of Calligraphy Teaching Materials from the Perspective of Chinese Preschool Education-Anshan City Case Study

Background and Aim: The art of Chinese calligraphy is an important part of Chinese culture because of its artistic and aesthetic value. It originates from Chinese characters, which evolved from traditional symbols. Chinese characters have gone through three stages of development: image, borrowing, and echoing. Chinese characters have evolved from pictures and symbols to standardized forms such as ancient seal script, small seal script, official script, regular script, running script, and cursive script. Calligraphy is a special art originating from China. Children begin learning calligraphy at an early age, with some children as young as four or five practicing scribbling and writing. Before formal literacy education, children develop curiosity about words and engage in spontaneous writing. Learning calligraphy is ideal for preschoolers because it helps develop their creativity and improves their hand-eye coordination. Studies on the emergence of reading and writing in China have been conducted since the 1990s. These studies are based on the Western pinyin writing system and aim to examine the development of literacy skills in children. The goal is to explore the manifestation of reading and writing skills in children and their ability to develop these skills. This study aims to develop and design calligraphy teaching materials for preschool children in Anshan City, China, by incorporating cultural elements unique to the region. Materials and Methods: The study lasted 12 weeks, during which time 50 preschoolers were observed and their activities recorded using a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods, including content and text analysis and user experience research methods. Valid data were generated for analysis. Results: The research suggests that introducing Spring Festival couplets in writing education can help preschool children understand regional culture and encourage them to learn. This can make a significant contribution to calligraphy education for preschool children, which has not been explored before. To improve the calligraphic ability and interest of preschool children, an innovative approach based on educational technology can be used to develop and design calligraphy teaching materials. The effectiveness and feasibility of these materials can be validated through their use in the learning of calligraphy for preschool children in Anshan City, providing new teaching tools for calligraphy education in the city. This can serve as a reference for calligraphy education for preschool children and promote innovation in the field. Conclusion: The study explored the current state of calligraphy art education for preschoolers in Anshan City. Results revealed that there are some issues such as lack of engaging content and teaching methods. Questionnaires and interviews showed that preschoolers are interested in calligraphy, but there is a need for better resources and teaching methods. An experiment was conducted in two kindergartens to compare a new calligraphy education model with traditional methods. Preliminary results suggest that the new model improved children's calligraphy knowledge, skills, interest, and creativity. However, further research is needed for more accurate findings. The conclusion suggests that calligraphy teaching materials for preschool children should take into account their cognitive development and educational needs.

Penanaman Karakter Anak Pedesaan Melalui Kajian Dan Seni Al-Quran: Perjalanan Mahasiswa KKN Di Desa Tanjung Dalam

This article reviews the experience of students from KKN Group 10 of UINFAS Bengkulu in instilling character in children in Tanjung Dalam Village through Quranic studies, learning Arabic through songs, and writing and coloring calligraphy. This program is designed to enhance academic skills while fostering religious, creative, and cultural character in children using developmental methods and the ABC (Activity-Based Curriculum) Method. The results show significant improvements in children's participation, teaching quality, academic skills, and creativity. Support from parents and the community also played a crucial role in the program's success. This program is expected to serve as a model for other villages to adopt in order to instill character in children through engaging and educational activities.

Keterampilan komunikasi ibu dan perkembangan personal-sosial anak prasekolah: Studi kasus di TK Taruna Karya, Kecamatan Bontobahari

Background: According to 2020 data from the Central Statistics Agency, there are approximately 30.83 million early childhood children, with 29.28% of them being preschool-aged (5-6 years old). At the preschool stage, children's personal-social development is influenced by various factors, including communication, the surrounding environment, health status, and peer interactions. A friendly/effective communication model between a mother and her child plays a crucial role in creating the home as the child's first/primary social environment. Effective communication can help improve children's personal-social skills, which are essential for healthy social interactions outside the home. This study aims to explore the correlation between mothers' communication skills and the personal-social development of preschool children at TK Taruna Karya, Bontobahari District. Method: This study employs a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. The study population consists of mothers of 80 students from TK Taruna Karya, Bontobahari District. The sampling technique used is total/consecutive sampling, where all mothers of students in this population are included as samples. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed to evaluate mothers' communication skills and the personal-social development of their children. The data were then analyzed using SPSS 16 with a chi-square test and an alternative Fisher’s Exact Test to determine if there was a significant relationship between the studied variables. Findings: The analysis results showed a ρ-value of 0.000 (ρ<α=0.05), indicating a significant relationship between mothers' communication skills and the personal-social development of preschool children at TK Taruna Karya. Conclusion: This study concludes that there is a significant relationship between mothers' communication skills and the personal-social development of preschool children at TK Taruna Karya, Bontobahari District. Improved mothers' communication skills contribute positively to the personal-social development of a child.

The Effect of Touch and Massage Techniques Applied to Children on Parental Role Perception and Perceived Stress

Aim: The study examined the effects of tactile and massage techniques on the occupational therapist’s perspective on the role perception and stress levels of parents and the changes in children’s sensory processing. Method: A total of 30 children, (18 females and 12 males), aged 3-6, with normal development, and their parents were included in the study. A diverse community sample of mothers (M=33.6±5.521 years) and their preschool-aged children (M=4.5±1.2 years) participated in the study. The following instruments were employed: Parental Stress Index, Self-Perception Scale for Parenting Role, and Sensory Profile Test. Parents were instructed in a number of touch and massage techniques devised by the Occupational Therapist within the framework of Sensory Integration Theory. Following the 15-minute and 20-session implementation period, the parents were then tested. After the sessions were completed, the tests were repeated. Results: The findings indicated that at the end of the study, there was a decrease in parental stress levels, and an increase in parental role perception and children's sensory processing skills (p <0.05). The study demonstrated that touch and massage techniques can positively impact parent-child interaction. Conclusion: Studies examining the potential enduring effects of positive parental touch on stress levels and parental role perception rarely extend beyond infancy. It is believed that research with a larger sample size on this topic would contribute significantly to the existing literature.

Increased Salivary BDNF and Improved Fundamental Motor Skills in Children Following a 3-Month Integrated Neuromuscular Training in Primary School.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein involved in synaptic transmission and neuronal plasticity, which underlie the processes of learning and memory formation. Acute exercise and exercise training increase BDNF concentration. We aimed to evaluate the effects of a 3-month integrated neuromuscular training (INT) on salivary BDNF concentration and the mastery of fundamental motor skills in school-aged children. An additional goal was to explore the associations between potential changes in BDNF and fundamental motor skills. Sixty-seven primary school-aged children were randomly allocated to control (N = 32; 7.52 ± 0.31 y) or INT groups (N = 35; 7.56 ± 0.29 y). A 3-month INT was applied during the warm-up of physical education (PE) classes, twice weekly. Salivary BDNF was measured using a sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the mastery of fundamental motor skills was assessed using the CAMSA test, at baseline and after 3 months. The children in the INT group, as compared to the children in the control group, exhibited higher salivary BDNF (F = 8.865; p = 0.004), higher scores for sidestep (F = 13.240, p = 0.001), 1-foot hop (F = 11.684, p = 0.001), kick (F = 4.010, p = 0.050), the sum of locomotor skills (F = 18.799, p < 0.0001), and the sum of control and manipulative skills (F = 8.151, p = 0.006), as well as the total sum of fundamental motor skills (F = 11.266, p = 0.001) after the 3 months. Interestingly, the increase in salivary BDNF concentration after the 3-month INT was associated with an improvement in locomotor skills (beta = 0.385; p = 0.039; adjusted R2 = 0.088) and the total improvement in fundamental motor skills (beta = 0.428; p = 0.020; adjusted R2 = 0.124). A school-based 3-month INT increased salivary BDNF and improved the mastery of fundamental motor skills in children, highlighting the positive impact of this intervention for a pediatric population.

What Silent Pauses Can 'Tell' Us About the Storytelling Skills of Autistic Children: Relations Between Pausing, Language Skills and Executive Functions.

Silent pauses may serve communicative purposes such as demarcating boundaries between discourse units in language production. Previous research has shown that autistic children differ in their pausing behavior from typically-developing (TD) peers, however, the factors behind this difference remain underexplored. The current study was aimed at comparing the use of silent pauses in the narrative production of autistic children and age-matched TD children, and also to identify possible relations between pausing behavior and the children's language and executive function abilities. According to the study's findings, the autistic children did not differ from their TD peers in the use of grammatical pauses, however, the former tended to produce significantly less syntactically complex narratives than the TD group, which increased the likelihood that the autistic group would pause appropriately at phrasal boundaries. Thoughwe have found low rates of ungrammatical silent pauses and omitted pauses in obligatory discourse contexts across both groups, autistic children with lower cognitive flexibility tended to use more ungrammatical pauses than their peers with higher cognitive flexibility scores. Also, the autistic group tended to omit obligatory silent pauses more often as their narration became more complex. The results demonstrate that syntactic complexity in narrative production modulated autistic children's pausing behavior, and that structurally simple narrations boosted the autistic group's appropriate use of grammatical pauses. The overall findings also demonstrate the importance of studying silent pauses in the narrative discourse of autistic children, and also highlight the links between silent pauses and the children's syntactic and cognitive skills.

Effects of School-Based Interventions Implemented by Nurses for Children Aged 3-6 Years: A Systematic Review of Experimental Evidence

Objectives: The 3-6 age period, which includes the pre-school, is when the child acquires essential habits, develops skills, and socializes. This systematic review was planned to examine the available evidence on the effectiveness of school-based interventions implemented by nurses and administered to preschool children. Material and Method: The systematic review used a search to identify studies published between 2015 and 2024 from PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases. Results: When the findings were examined, fifteen studies, including six randomized controlled trials and nine quasi-experimental studies, met the inclusion criteria. In the studies conducted, it was determined that the duration of the interventions applied only to children was between 2 and 16 sessions, the intervention periods of the studies that included parents along with children were between 8 and 30 sessions, and only 4 studies used theory or models. It was determined that the programs applied by nurses to children between the ages of 3-6 in the school environment provided children with knowledge and skills and had positive effects on the development of their physical, social, and emotional health. Conclusions: Nurses are responsible for increasing children's knowledge and skills in schools and promoting healthy lifestyles. Nurses must collaborate with parents to ensure that children's health education at home and school complement each other. The results of the studies included in the systematic review should be cautiously interpreted due to the limited number of studies and small sample size. To obtain the best evidence on the effectiveness of interventions, randomised controlled trials aiming to improve social and emotional competencies are needed to evaluate comprehensive, high-quality, and long-term effects. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration number was CRD42023467297

Strategies for Supporting Critical Thinking Skills in Children by Preschool Teachers Scale: Validity and Reliability Study

Bu çalışmanın amacı okul öncesi öğretmenlerinin çocuklarda eleştirel düşünme becerilerini destekleme stratejilerini belirlemek için bir ölçme aracı geliştirmektir. Araştırmada açımlayıcı faktör analizi (AFA) için 300, doğrulayıcı faktör analizi (DFA) için 390 okul öncesi öğretmeni katılımcıyla çalışılmıştır. Tarama modelinde gerçekleştirilen çalışmada ölçek 5’li likert tipli olup tek faktörden oluşmaktadır. Ölçeğin yapı geçerliği için açımlayıcı faktör analizi (AFA) ve doğrulayıcı faktör analizi (DFA) yapılmıştır. Tek faktörlü yapının açıkladığı varyans oranı %69 olup bu faktöre ait faktör yükü değerleri 0.695 ile 0.894 arasında değişmektedir. Ölçeğin uyum istatistiği incelendiğinde RMSEA değeri .071 ve SRMR değeri de .061 olarak bulunurken, CFI değeri .99, NFI=.98, NNFI=.99 ve χ²/sd ise 2.84 olarak bulunmuştur. Ölçeğin esas uygulamasından elde edilen ölçme sonuçlarının güvenirliğine ilişkin hesaplanan Cronbach Alpha değeri .97 bulunurken Spearman Brown İki Yarı yöntemleri için elde edilen güvenirlik katsayısı 0.98 olarak belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak “Okul Öncesi Öğretmenlerinin Çocuklarda Eleştirel Düşünme Becerilerini Destekleme Stratejileri Ölçeği”nin öğretmenlerin çocuklarda eleştirel düşünme becerilerini destekleme stratejilerinin belirlenmesinde kullanılabilecek geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçme aracı olduğu söylenebilir.

Feasibility Of Electronic Comics For The Introduction Of Clean And Healthy Living Behaviors At Mulya Fajar Kindergarten, Indragiri Hulu Regency

This research aims to develop an electronic comic (e-comic) as an innovative learning medium for introducing clean and healthy living behaviors at Mulya Fajar Kindergarten in Indragiri Hulu Regency. The e-comic is designed to enhance the interest and understanding of 4-5-year-old children in the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy lifestyle, which is a crucial aspect of early childhood education. The research began with an initial study to gather information and understand the current situation of teaching and learning activities at Mulya Fajar Kindergarten, particularly in the context of teaching about clean and healthy living. The researcher conducted observations and interviews with the school supervisor and teachers to identify any issues in the learning process, especially related to the introduction of clean and healthy living behaviors. The design of the e-comic was planned in stages, considering the appropriate materials for children to learn about clean and healthy living, the amount of information to be introduced, and any obstacles faced by teachers or students in teaching these concepts. The e-comic was created using the Canva platform, which offers a variety of tools for drawing illustrations, applying color palettes, adding text and dialog balloons, and incorporating graphic elements relevant to the theme of cleanliness and health. The final product of this research is an e-comic that has been tested and revised to ensure its quality and effectiveness. The e-comic is intended for use as an electronic learning medium for children aged 4-5 at Mulya Fajar Kindergarten in Indragiri Hulu Regency. The research also includes a statement of originality, confirming that the work is the researcher's own and free from plagiarism, and a validation sheet for the progress of the research project. The e-comic is expected to be a specific product that can be used to introduce clean and healthy living behaviors to young children, promoting interactive visual narratives that can develop children's language skills and creativity, as well as providing teachers with creative and innovative experiences to teach these concepts.

Bilingualism and second-order theory of mind development in autistic children over time: Longitudinal relations with language, executive functions, and intelligence.

Theory of Mind has long been studied as a core weakness in autism spectrum disorder due to its relationship with social reciprocity, while bilingualism has been shown to compensate for autistic individuals' mentalizing weaknesses. However, our knowledge of the Theory of Mind developmental trajectories of bilingual and monolingual autistic children, as well as of the factors related to Theory of Mind development in autism spectrum disorder is still limited. The current study has examined first- and second-order Theory of Mind skills in 21 monolingual and 21 bilingual autistic children longitudinally across three time points, specifically at ages 6, 9, and 12, and also investigated associations between Theory of Mind trajectories and trajectories of the children's language, intelligence and executive function skills. The results reveal that bilingual autistic children outperformed their monolingual peers in second-order Theory of Mind at ages 9 and 12, and that intelligence and, especially, expressive vocabulary skills played a pivotal role in advancing bilingual autistic children's second-order Theory of Mind development. On the other hand, monolingual autistic children only managed to capitalize on their language and intelligence resources at age 12. The findings highlight the importance of investigating bilingualism effects on autistic children's advanced cognitive abilities longitudinally.

The impact of children’s attentional behaviour and parent–child interaction on children’s self regulation skills

ABSTRACT This study aims to examine the predictive role of parent–child interaction on children's self-regulation skills during the preschool period. The study was conducted on a sample consisting of 219 children aged 5–6 and their mothers, selected using convenience sampling method. In the research, mothers’ interactions with their children were evaluated using the Maternal Behavior Rating Scale, while children’s interactions with their mothers were assessed using the Child Behavior Rating Scale, and children’s self-regulation skills were evaluated based on performance using the Preschool Self-Regulation Assessment. The findings indicate that interaction elements predicting children’s self-regulation skills at a high and positive level include children’s attention, as well as mothers’ sensitive-responsive behaviors. The interaction element predicting self-regulation skills at a negative level is mothers’ focus on achievement and directive behaviour. In contrast, neither the children’s initiation of interaction nor the mothers’ emotional and expressive behaviors were significant predictors of the children’s self-regulation skills. The results were discussed in light of existing literature and suggestions for future research were provided.

Penggunaan Metode Bernyanyi dalam Meningkatkan Kemampuan Berbahasa Anak

The purpose of this study was to determine the increase in children's language skills through the use of the singing method in Group B children at Yapis Konda Kindergarten, Konda District, Konawe Selatan Regency. This research is a type of Classroom Action Research (CAR) which is carried out in 2 (two) learning cycles, each cycle consisting of 2 meetings with stages: planning, implementing, observing, evaluating and reflecting. The subjects of this study were group B students at Yapis Konda Kindergarten, Konda District, Konawe Selatan District, totaling 20 students consisting of 10 boys and 10 girls. The results of the research on the initial observation had classical completeness of 40%, namely only 8 students. in the first cycle there were 13 students (65%), then in the second cycle it increased to 18 students (90%) and exceeded the standard indicator of success that had been determined, namely 75%. These results indicate that the language skills of group B children in Kindergarten Yapis Konda, Konda District, South Konawe Regency can be improved through the use of the singing method.

Pengaruh Kegiatan Kolase dengan Pemanfatan Bahan Alam terhadap Keterampilan Motorik Halus Anak di Taman Kanak-kanak Aisyiyah Koto Baru Maninjau Kabupaten Agam

Early childhood education basically aims to support all aspects of child development. Teachers have various methods to stimulate children's fine motor development. One effective way is to utilise natural materials such as leaves, corals, stones, seeds and coconut pulp. These materials have the potential to be utilised in the creation of many artworks, encompassing collage techniques. The objective of this study was to eval_uate the influence of artistic activities involving natural materials on the refinement of children's fine motor skills at Aisyiyah Koto Maninjau Kindergarten in Agam Regency. The study employed a quantitative methodology utilising a pre-experimental design, specifically a one-group pretest-posttest strategy. The study showcased the efficacy of utilising natural materials in collage to enhance children's fine motor abilities. The post-test findings showed that collage using natural leaves was beneficial. The comprehensive study revealed an average N-Gain score of 7.87, which was categorised as high. The N-Gain percentage reached 78.7%, indicating a significant level of effectiveness. In conclusion, collage activities utilising natural materials proved effective in improving children's fine motor skills.

Edukasi Kesehatan Gigi dan Mulut Melalui Media Pembelajaran Berbasis Interaktif pada Siswa SDN Inpres Tamamaung 4 Kota Makassar

Background: Children who experience dental and oral health problems can experience a decline in quality. At the age of elementary school children, it is necessary for business actors to maintain dental and oral health regularly, both in counseling, examinations and dental and oral health care, by parents, schools and related government agencies. Elementary school age is the ideal time to train children's motor skills, including brushing their teeth. In addition, school age has shown learning sensitivity according to children's curiosity. Objective: To provide dental and oral health education through interactive learning media to students of SDN Inpres Tamamaung 4, Makassar City in 2022. Method: This community service is carried out by providing counseling, using media, namely back and forth worksheets, animated films, and puzzle games that aim to create two-way communication and make students active. Respondents in this community service were 3rd grade students of SDN Inpres Tamamaung 4, Makassar City in 2022. Results: There were 5 respondents (25%) with a good level of knowledge before being given facilities increasing to 14 (70%), there were 5 respondents (25%) with a sufficient level of knowledge before being given facilities decreasing to 4 (20%), and there were 10 respondents (50%) with a level of knowledge before being given facilities decreasing to 2 respondents (10%). Conclusion: Community service activities with the theme "Dental and Oral Health Education Through Interactive-Based Learning Media for Students of SDN Inpres Tamamaung 4, Makassar City in 2022" have been carried out well and received a positive response from the 3rd grade students that we have filtered through screening. It was found that many students have dental and oral problems such as cavities and their lack of knowledge about how to maintain dental and oral health is due to the lack of health socialization held by the school and local health centers.

"Track style" children's fundamental movement skills test: construction and verification of an efficient evaluation system.

This study aimed to develop an efficient tool for assessing children's fundamental motor skills, the "Track style" Children's Fundamental Movement Skills Test (TCFMST), based on theories of motor development integrated with Chinese cultural context and physical education teaching situations. Starting from a literature analysis, the study selected items from existing fundamental movement skill (FMS) assessments, textbooks, physical education and health standards, and children's movement guidelines to construct a pool of test items. Subsequently, the items were screened and optimized using the Delphi method. Finally, the feasibility, discrimination, difficulty, reliability, and validity of the constructed test were examined using testing methods. The TCFMST includes three dimensions: locomotive skills, body control skills, and manipulative skills, with a total of 10 items. The difficulty and discrimination of each item are appropriate; the correlation coefficients for retest reliability range from 0.789 to 0.943 (p < 0.01). The results of exploratory factor analysis indicate that the common factors align with the hypothesized three dimensions, indicating good structural validity of the test. The concurrent validity results show a correlation coefficient of -0.510 (p < 0.01) between the TCFMST and the total score of TGMD-3, indicating a moderate correlation between the two tests. The TCFMST developed in this study has good difficulty, discrimination, reliability, and validity. It also features strong operability, a short duration, and high interest. It can serve as an important tool for monitoring children's fundamental motor skill levels.

Parents in the Driver's Seat-Experiences of Parent-Delivered Baby-mCIMT Coached Remotely.

Background/Objectives: Recent guidelines on early intervention in children at high risk of cerebral palsy (CP) recommend parental involvement and family-centered home-based interventions with parents as primary trainers. Therapist coaching by home visitation is resource demanding, and telerehabilitation is a viable option for remote intervention and coaching. This study aims to describe parents' experiences of engaging in Baby-mCIMT coached remotely. Their infants are at high risk of unilateral cerebral palsy and the parents have been the primary trainers in regard to home-based intervention, optimizing the use of the affected hand. Methods: A qualitative approach involving semi-structured interviews with eight parents was employed. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The overarching theme "Parents in the driver's seat-learning through remote coaching to create conditions to enhance the child's motor skills" describes parents' experiences as primary training providers. The following three underlying categories with subcategories were identified: (1) Baby-mCIMT coached remotely in an everyday context-practical and technical prerequisites; (2) the child's response and the therapists' coaching supports active parental learning; (3) capability and sense of control-strengthening and demanding aspects. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that Baby-mCIMT coached remotely empowered the parents as primary trainers, which provided them with opportunities for understanding and learning about their child and their development. The findings underscore the importance of responsive professional guidance and a strong therapist-parent relationship to succeed with the Baby-mCIMT program coached remotely and to manage the digital coaching format.

Training morphosyntactic skills in Dutch preschoolers with (presumed) Developmental Language Disorder: A novel group-based intervention.

Morphosyntactic problems are a core symptom of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). In the Netherlands, children with (presumed) DLD can receive special care in language-focused treatment groups. The focus of these groups mainly lies in improving communicative intentions, vocabulary and phonology. Morphosyntactic skills receive less attention. The authors developed a scripted group-based intervention targeting morphosyntactic skills in young children with DLD. In this study, the effect of the intervention on the morphosyntactic skills of preschoolers with (presumed) DLD was tested and the usability for pedagogical practitioners (PPs) was evaluated. Twenty-seven preschoolers with DLD (aged 2;10-3;10 [years;months]) participated in an A-B group study in which the development of grammatical structures was monitored with a morphosyntactic task and language sample analyses (LSA). Progression during 8 weeks usual care (UC) and 8 weeks morphosyntactic intervention was examined using Bayesian mixed effects models. In LSA, structures that were targeted were compared to control structures. The intervention consisted of a weekly script-based group session in which morphosyntactic structures were targeted, and daily activities in which these target structures were repeated. The intervention was provided by trained PPs, who were coached by a speech-language therapist. An early indication of usability and feasibility was evaluated using an online questionnaire. The analyses show that morphosyntactic skills improved during the intervention period, with strong evidence for growth in the production of target structures on the morphosyntactic task and target and control structures in LSA, while barely any evidence was found for growth in the use of these structures in UC. However, target structures and control structures seem to develop at the same rate. General measures of morphosyntactic ability showed improvement both during UC and the intervention phase. Evaluation among practitioners suggested that the intervention is regarded as usable and feasible. Growth in morphosyntactic skills of children in the intervention period was demonstrated, but this could not be proven to be related to the intervention because both target and control structures improved during the intervention. This growth might be due to maturation instead of the intervention. Nevertheless, our study demonstrates that the morphosyntactic skills of preschoolers with DLD can show considerable improvement over a period of 8 weeks. Furthermore, our study underlines the importance of using LSA measures when monitoring the morphosyntactic development of children, as they might be more sensitive to change than standardised tests. What is already known on the subject Most children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) experience difficulties in their morphosyntactic development. In the Netherlands, preschoolers with DLD can receive special care in language-focused treatment groups. These groups mainly focus on stimulating communicative intentions, vocabulary and phonology, but less so on stimulating morphosyntactic skills. What this study adds We designed a new group-based intervention targeting the expressive morphosyntactic skills of children with DLD, examined the effect and investigated the usability and feasibility. Although there is strong evidence for growth in morphological skills, intervention effects could not be demonstrated. Evaluations among practitioners suggested that the intervention is regarded as usable and feasible. Furthermore, this study shows that children's morphosyntactic skills can improve over relatively short periods of time and language sample analyses seem to be sensitive to detect these changes. What are the clinical implications of this work? Currently, very few group-based morphosyntactic interventions exist (in the Netherlands). Since practitioners were generally positive about the intervention and its usability and feasibility, the proposed intervention might benefit the treatment of morphosyntactic problems in children with DLD.

Meningkatkan Kemampuan Berbahasa Anak Melalui Metode Bercerita

Background: In PAUD programs, learning activities are designed to develop various aspects of child development, including language skills. Objective: This study aims to improve children's language skills through the application of the Storytelling Method in Group B of Ummul Mu'min Kindergarten, North Kolaka Regency. Methods: The study used a classroom action research design (PTK) with two cycles. The research subjects consisted of 16 children in Group B of Ummul Mu'min Kindergarten. Data were collected through observation, as well as documentation of the learning process. Results: The results showed that the implementation of the Storytelling Method significantly improved children's language skills. In cycle I, there was an increase from 40% to 72.22%, and in cycle II it reached a success rate of 93.75%. Conclusion: The implication of this study is that the Storytelling Method can be used as an effective alternative method in developing children's language skills at the kindergarten level. This research is expected to contribute to the development of learning strategies in kindergarten and provide guidance for teachers to design learning activities that support children's language development.