Electronic Game Intensity and Gross Motor Development in Children Aged 5–6 Years: A Case Study at RA Nurul Huda Gegurun

Abstract

This study examines how electronic games affect the development of gross motor skills among children aged 5-6 years at RA Nurul Huda Gegurun, Lombok Timur,, Indonesia. The central question addressed is whether the intensity and duration of daily electronic game use are associated with variations in children's gross motor achievement, including balance, coordination, and locomotor skills. The researcher positioned this study within a descriptive qualitative case-study design, combining participatory observation, semi-structured interviews with teachers and parents, and documentation of children's daily electronic-game intensity to answer this question. Data on daily electronic-game intensity were cross-referenced with a gross motor development checklist adapted from early childhood assessment indicators. The findings show that children with high daily electronic-game intensity (more than 60 minutes) tend to achieve lower gross motor scores than peers who engage more often in physical and outdoor play, particularly on balance and body-coordination indicators, while children with low electronic-game exposure show more optimal gross motor development. These results imply that early childhood educators and parents at RA Nurul Huda Gegurun should design structured active-play interventions and limit daily screen-based electronic games to support optimal gross motor development.