Implementation of the Participatory Guidance Model through the Traditional Wela Maka Game to Optimize Children's Physical Motor Development

Abstract

The physical motor skills of children in early childhood education at Tkk Kemala Bhayangkari 08 Bajawa are currently at an alarming level. A reliance on gadgets and a lack of varied physical stimulation result in the majority of children experiencing impaired body coordination and motor dexterity, far below developmental standards. This Community Service (PKM) program aims to reverse this negative trend by implementing a participatory guidance model that integrates the traditional game Wela Maka as a physical motor stimulation tool. Through this participatory approach, teachers and children are directly involved in movement engineering, which requires concentration, balance, and leg muscle strength. The program's implementation results in an impressive performance increase; children's physical coordination and dynamic balance improved by 42% compared to before the intervention. Furthermore, the use of Wela Maka games can stimulate children's natural passion for movement while preserving endangered local cultural assets. This model has proven not only physiologically effective but also increases children's happiness index in learning through structured yet enjoyable movement.