The Centre for Life-Span Development (CLSD) of the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) organised a KKN Warming Up program in the form of training on socio-emotional stimulation and early childhood literacy on Saturday (16/5). This activity is part of the preparation for students participating in the KKN-PPM UGM program. CLSD itself is a research and community service centre within the Faculty of Psychology UGM that focuses on human development across the lifespan.
The training was held from 09:00 to 15:00 WIB at Rooms B-302 and B-303, Faculty of Psychology UGM, and was attended by 30 undergraduate Psychology students. The program was designed as an initial preparation for students before they engage directly with communities during the KKN-PPM program, which will be implemented across various partner regions of UGM.
Through this training, students are expected to be able to assist early childhood development through literacy activities and developmental stimulation during their KKN.
One of the key sessions featured The Reading Buddies, a CLSD program focused on strengthening children’s literacy through shared loud-out reading activities. In this session, participants were introduced to methods for creating engaging, responsive, and child-centred reading interactions.
The session was delivered by I Marannu Andi Khalisha, S.Psi., an alumnus of the Faculty of Psychology UGM, along with Rahmita Laily Muhtadini, S.Psi., a Master’s student in Psychology at UGM.
In addition to literacy, the training also covered socio-emotional stimulation in children, presented by Sutarimah Ampuni, S.Psi., M.Si., M.Psych., Ph.D., Psychologist. She emphasised that child development is not only measured through physical and cognitive abilities, but also through the ability to recognise emotions, interact, and build relationships with their environment.
“Optimal child development is not only measured by physical and cognitive growth, but also by strong socio-emotional abilities,” she explained.
Through these two sessions, students not only gained an understanding of the importance of literacy and socio-emotional stimulation but also practical insights that can be applied when interacting directly with children in their KKN locations.
The training received positive responses from participants, as it provided not only theoretical knowledge but also hands-on experience.
“So insightful! We not only learned the theories and technical aspects, but also gained hands-on experience and constructive feedback. Very helpful for preparing for KKN and applying it in other contexts as well,” said one of the participants.
This activity reflects CLSD’s ongoing efforts to strengthen students’ readiness for community engagement, while also expanding access to knowledge on early childhood development through the KKN-PPM program.
Report: Ayesha, S.Psi.
Writer: Arrasya Aninggadhira
Editor: Erna Tri Nofiyana