Decoupage Art Therapy as an Alternative Activity to Reduce Gadget Dependence on Primary School Students in Makassar [Seni Decoupage Sebagai Kegiatan Alternatif Mengurangi Ketergantungan Gadget Pada Siswa Sekolah Dasar di Makassar]

Abstract

Introduction: Gadgets are media that is inseparable from the lives of individuals today, including underage children. General gadgets are used as a means of entertainment and education. However, excessive use of gadgets has a psychological and mental impact that is bad for health, social interaction, and child development. Parents and teachers should be able to provide alternative activities that can make children switch focus from gadgets, one of which is through art therapy. Aims: to reduce the level of gadget dependency of primary school students in two schools, namely the SD Inpres Kampus Unhas and SD Inpres Kampus Unhas I, Makassar. Method used in this program includes Decoupage art training for teachers and students in two target schools; and a survey of student perceptions of Decoupage activities. The evaluation was carried out in two ways, namely by looking at the enthusiasm of the students when the training took place & asking participants to fill out the perception survey after attending the Decoupage training. Results: The activity was attended by 17 teachers as facilitators and 79 elementary students consisting of students in grades 4 - 6. Each Decoupage training session lasted for 2 hours. More than 80% of participants said this activity was fun and enjoyable and they would practice it again at home. Although the initial goal of this activity is to reduce student dependence on gadgets not yet seen in the majority of student answers, there are some students who have shown a tendency to put Decoupage as fun as playing gadget activities.