August 19, 2026

On Friday, 14 August 2026, the children of TK Al Siddiq took part in an art class as part of the celebrations for Indonesian Independence Day. The activity was held in the assembly room in a lively and joyful atmosphere filled with enthusiasm and togetherness. The children were invited to create Independence-themed hanging decorations, which would later become part of the decorations while also serving as their own creative work to welcome the Independence Day celebrations. The activity was not only intended to produce attractive artwork, but also provided an opportunity for the children to experience and become familiar with the atmosphere of Independence Day from an early age. Through creative activities with an Indonesian theme, the children were introduced to the spirit of togetherness, a sense of pride in their country, and positive values such as cooperation, mutual assistance, and respect for one another. To make the activity even more engaging, the children were divided into five groups in each class. The groups consisted of a mixture of TK A and TK B children, allowing them to play and participate in activities together. After the groups had been formed, all the children were guided to the assembly room and directed to sit at the tables assigned to their respective groups. Before beginning their artwork, the teachers introduced the activity and explained important safety instructions, including how to use scissors safely. The teachers explained the design of the hanging decoration, the materials required, and the steps involved in making it using language that was easy for the children to understand. Once the children had understood the instructions, each teacher accompanied one group table to provide guidance and support throughout the creative process. The children then began making their hanging decorations according to the teachers’ guidance. Each child was given the opportunity to participate directly in creating the artwork, from selecting and using the materials to completing their own decoration. The activity helped develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, concentration, creativity, and the ability to follow instructions. Furthermore, as the groups consisted of both TK A and TK B children, they also learnt how to interact and work together with friends of different ages. The atmosphere became even more lively as the children helped one another and proudly showed their finished creations. The teachers provided support whenever needed without limiting the children’s creativity. In this way, each child was able to express themselves while also learning how to complete a task as part of a group. Once all the artwork had been completed, the activity concluded with a group photograph for documentation. The children enthusiastically posed for the photo while proudly displaying the Independence-themed decorations they had created. This moment became a memorable and enjoyable part of their experience in welcoming Indonesian Independence Day. Through this Independence-themed hanging-decoration activity, the children of TK Al Siddiq not only created artwork, but also gained valuable learning experiences in togetherness, cooperation, creativity, independence, and love for Indonesia. This simple yet meaningful activity provided an enjoyable way to introduce the spirit of independence to young children through direct experiences and activities that are relevant to their world.By Inka Amalia, S.Pd

On Tuesday, 11 August 2026, the children of TK B Al Siddiq took part in a play-based learning activity at the Block Centre. On this occasion, the children were invited to build a flag tower using wooden blocks. The activity provided a space for them to express their ideas and imagination through block structures of their own creation. Before beginning the activity, the teacher first explained the rules for playing at the Block Centre. The children were encouraged to understand how to pick up, use, and put away the blocks safely. The teacher also reminded them to use the blocks appropriately and to ensure that the activity remained orderly and enjoyable. After the rules had been explained, the teacher introduced the activity, which was to build a flag tower using blocks. The teacher explained the basic points that needed to be considered while still giving the children the freedom to determine the shape and arrangement of their structures according to their individual ideas. The children then began selecting the blocks they needed and arranging them to create their own towers. Throughout the activity, each child was able to create a different structure according to their imagination and creativity. Some children built tall towers using carefully arranged blocks, while others added additional sections as decorations or tried to create structures that differed from the example provided. This freedom to explore gave the children opportunities to learn how to make decisions and complete the structures they had planned. Building a flag tower also provided a range of developmental benefits. Arranging blocks can help develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, creativity, and problem-solving skills. The children learnt to consider the balance of their structures, choose appropriately sized blocks, and try again when their arrangements did not turn out as expected. After the building activity was completed, the teacher conducted a recalling session with the children. They were given the opportunity to talk about what they had built, how they had created it, and how they felt during the activity. Through recalling, the children learnt to reflect on their play experiences, express their ideas, and listen to their friends’ stories. As part of developing a sense of responsibility, the activity concluded with tidying up the blocks that had been used. The children worked together to return the blocks to their proper places. This routine helped foster discipline, responsibility, cooperation, and care for the learning environment. Through the flag-tower building activity at the Block Centre, the children of TK B Al Siddiq gained an enjoyable and meaningful learning experience. They did not simply learn how to build using blocks, but also learnt to follow rules, develop creativity, solve problems, communicate their ideas and creations, and take responsibility for the materials they used. Through play, children are able to learn actively through experiences that are meaningful and closely connected to their world.By Inka Amalia, S.Pd

On Wednesday, 5 August 2026, the children of TK B Al Siddiq took part in a learning activity at the Natural Materials Centre. During this session, the children were invited to explore a variety of activities using water as a medium for both play and learning. The learning environment was designed to be enjoyable, allowing the children to try, observe, and discover new experiences through activities of their own choice. Before they began playing, the teacher first explained the rules for activities at the Natural Materials Centre. The children were encouraged to understand how to use the tools and materials safely, keep the play area clean, and return the equipment after use. The teacher then introduced the different activities available and demonstrated simple ways to engage in each one. After understanding the rules and the activities available, the children were given the opportunity to choose activities according to their interests. Some children chose to measure the volume of water using containers of different sizes, while others experimented with pouring water into bottles. Some were also interested in mixing water of different colours. The children showed great enthusiasm as they tried different ways of exploring water and discovering what would happen as a result of their experiments. In addition, some children chose to play with water sponges. They dipped the sponges into the water, squeezed them, and observed the water coming out. This simple activity gave the children an opportunity to understand cause and effect while also developing hand strength and coordination. They also learnt to control their hand movements while squeezing the sponge so that the water could be transferred from one place to another. Water play at the Natural Materials Centre was not simply intended to provide an enjoyable play experience. It also served as a means of developing various skills, including fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, thinking skills, and problem-solving abilities. When the children experimented with measuring water, for example, they began to learn about concepts such as size, more and less, full and empty, as well as comparing volumes through concrete experiences. Mixing coloured water also gave the children an opportunity to experiment and develop their curiosity. They could observe how colours changed when two different colours were combined. Meanwhile, pouring water into bottles helped the children develop concentration, accuracy, and coordination of movement. Each activity provided a different learning experience while remaining rooted in the principle that children learn through play and direct exploration. Through this water-play activity, the children of TK B Al Siddiq were not only having fun, but were also given the opportunity to learn from their own experiences. The children were free to choose activities that interested them, while the teacher acted as a facilitator by accompanying, observing, and providing support whenever needed. In this way, the Natural Materials Centre became a space where children could explore, experiment, and develop a wide range of skills through activities that are closely connected to everyday life.By Inka Amalia, S.Pd