Development of Pretend Play Methods Based on Local Culture to Anhance Children’s Communication Skills

This research aims to develop a local culture-based pretend play method to stimulate children's communication skills. The cultural themes are adapted to Bugis culture, such as the themes "mappatabe, malempu, warani." The study applies the development ADDIE model (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation). The needs analysis indicates that teachers require a learning method that can stimulate children's communication skills according to the characteristics of children's play and that it would be more effective if adapted to local culture, helping children to form self-identity and pride in cultural values. This research produces a teaching module that can be used by teachers to stimulate children's communication skills. The content and tool validity tests show a highly valid category. Practicality tests through teacher response questionnaires and observation instruments on the implementation of the method show excellent results. The effectiveness test starts with an analysis of pretest and posttest scores, which shows an improvement, followed by a t-test, and then a hypothesis test that demonstrates the influence of the pretend play method in stimulating children's communication skills. Furthermore, the N Gain test results indicate that the application of the local culture-based pretend play method is effective in stimulating children's communication skills.