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Abstract

Stunting affects not only physical growth but also several aspects of child development, including gross and fine motor skills. Early stimulation interventions, such as Montessori-based activities, have been proposed to enhance developmental outcomes through structured sensorimotor experiences. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Montessori-based stimulation on motor development among children with stunting and to compare its outcomes with those of conventional stimulation. A quasi-experimental study with intervention and control groups was conducted among 120 children with stunting aged 36–59 months. Participants were allocated to either a Montessori group (n = 60) or a conventional stimulation group (n = 60). The intervention was delivered over 12 weeks, three times per week, with each session lasting 60 minutes. Gross and fine motor development were assessed before and after the intervention using the Pre-Screening Developmental Questionnaire. Within-group changes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, while betweengroup differences were examined using the Mann–Whitney U test. The Montessori group showed significant improvements in gross motor development (p = 0.028) and fine motor development (p = 0.003). In the conventional group, only fine motor development improved significantly (p = 0.046), whereas changes in gross motor development were not statistically significant (p = 0.144). However, no significant differences were observed between the Montessori and conventional groups in post-intervention comparisons (p > 0.05). Montessori-based stimulation may contribute to improvements in gross and fine motor development among children with stunting. However, the absence of significant between-group differences suggests that Montessori-based stimulation was not superior to conventional stimulation during the study period. Further studies with larger samples and randomized controlled designs are needed to clarify its role in supporting developmental outcomes in children with stunting.

Bahasa Abstract

Pengaruh Stimulasi Berbasis Metode Montessori terhadap Perkembangan Motorik Halus dan Motorik Kasar pada Anak Stunting: Studi Kuasi-Eksperimental. Stunting tidak hanya memengaruhi pertumbuhan fisik, tetapi juga berbagai aspek perkembangan anak, termasuk keterampilan motorik kasar dan motorik halus. Intervensi stimulasi dini, seperti aktivitas berbasis Montessori, telah diusulkan untuk meningkatkan hasil perkembangan melalui pengalaman sensorimotor yang terstruktur. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi pengaruh stimulasi berbasis Montessori terhadap perkembangan motorik pada anak stunting serta membandingkan hasilnya dengan stimulasi konvensional. Penelitian kuasi-eksperimental dengan kelompok intervensi dan kelompok kontrol dilakukan pada 120 anak stunting berusia 36–59 bulan. Partisipan dialokasikan ke dalam kelompok Montessori (n = 60) atau kelompok stimulasi konvensional (n = 60). Intervensi diberikan selama 12 minggu, tiga kali per minggu, dengan durasi 60 menit setiap sesi. Perkembangan motorik kasar dan motorik halus dinilai sebelum dan sesudah intervensi menggunakan Kuesioner Pra Skrining Perkembangan (KPSP). Perubahan dalam masing-masing kelompok dianalisis menggunakan uji Wilcoxon Signed-Rank, sedangkan perbedaan antar kelompok dianalisis menggunakan uji Mann–Whitney U. Kelompok Montessori menunjukkan peningkatan yang signifikan pada perkembangan motorik kasar (p = 0,028) dan motorik halus (p = 0,003). Pada kelompok stimulasi konvensional, hanya perkembangan motorik halus yang mengalami peningkatan signifikan (p = 0,046), sedangkan perubahan pada perkembangan motorik kasar tidak signifikan secara statistik (p = 0,144). Namun, tidak ditemukan perbedaan yang signifikan antara kelompok Montessori dan kelompok konvensional pada perbandingan pasca-intervensi (p > 0,05). Stimulasi berbasis Montessori berpotensi memberikan kontribusi terhadap peningkatan perkembangan motorik kasar dan motorik halus pada anak stunting. Namun, tidak adanya perbedaan yang signifikan antar kelompok menunjukkan bahwa stimulasi berbasis Montessori belum terbukti lebih unggul dibandingkan stimulasi konvensional selama periode penelitian. Penelitian lebih lanjut dengan jumlah sampel yang lebih besar dan desain randomized controlled trial diperlukan untuk memperjelas peran metode ini dalam mendukung hasil perkembangan anak stunting.

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