The Effect of Tembang Dolanan on Local Language Speaking Skills in Early Childhood
Abstract
The declining use of local languages, particularly Javanese, among young children has raised concerns about the preservation of local language and cultural heritage. This study examined the effect of tembang dolanan (traditional Javanese children's songs) on local language speaking skills among children aged 5–6 years. It also highlights the role of traditional children's songs in supporting language development while preserving local cultural heritage. This study employed a quantitative one-group pretest–posttest pre-experimental design involving 16 children selected through purposive sampling. The intervention consisted of 16 learning sessions over a 4 week period using tembang dolanan (traditional Javanese children's songs). Children's mean speaking score increased from 22.31 (SD = 2.301) in the pre-test to 36.13 (SD = 1.258) in the post-test. A paired-samples t-test confirmed that the improvement was statistically significant, t(15) = 24.161, p < .001, indicating that tembang dolanan effectively enhanced children's local language speaking skills. Traditional children's songs can be integrated into early childhood learning as a culturally responsive strategy to support local language development and cultural preservation. This study provides empirical evidence that tembang dolanan is an effective culturally responsive strategy for improving local language speaking skills in early childhood education.
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