PETRA AKTIF: Traditional Games as an Alternative Physical Activity for Elementary School Children

Traditional games offer accessible opportunities for physical activity, social interaction, and the introduction of local cultural practices among elementary school children. This study aimed to describe the implementation of PETRA AKTIF, a community service program introducing traditional games as alternative physical activities for elementary school students. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, the program involved 28 third-grade students from Public Elementary School 3 Plumbon, Karanganyar Regency, Indonesia. Four traditional games were introduced: hopscotch, jump rope, fortress, and dragon snake. Data were collected through direct observation, interviews, and activity documentation and subsequently analyzed descriptively. Student satisfaction was assessed using a five-level response scale. The findings revealed that students participated in various physical movements, including jumping, walking, running, and balancing. Group activities also demonstrated observable communication, cooperation, coordination, and adherence to game rules. Satisfaction assessments indicated that 25–27 of the 28 participants reported being satisfied or very satisfied with each game. Furthermore, the activities provided students with direct exposure to traditional games as expressions of local wisdom. These findings suggest that PETRA AKTIF provides opportunities for physical engagement, peer interaction, and cultural familiarization, although improvements in physical fitness and social skills were not directly measured.