Peran Guru dalam Meningkatkan Kreativitas Anak Usia Dini di KB Kasih Bunda Kecamatan Bengkalis

Abstract

This study examines the teacher's role in fostering creativity among early childhood students at KB Kasih Bunda in Bengkalis District. The study is motivated by 2022 PISA data indicating that Indonesian students' creative thinking performance remains well below the OECD average, while the Kurikulum Merdeka (Independent Curriculum) establishes the creative dimension as a key outcome of the Profil Pelajar Pancasila (Pancasila Student Profile) starting from the early childhood education (PAUD) level. This research aims to describe teachers' instructional strategies, learning environment management patterns, and the facilitating and inhibiting factors encountered by teachers in supporting children's creativity. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, utilizing data collection techniques such as interviews, observation, and documentation. The results reveal three primary issues: the dominance of conventional instructional media leading to low active child engagement, limited teacher pedagogical competence in designing creative media, and constraints regarding the institution's facilities, infrastructure, and budget. These findings indicate that efforts to enhance children's creativity cannot rely solely on individual teacher training but also require adequate institutional support. This study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the role of early childhood educators within the Kurikulum Merdeka policy framework and serves as a practical reference for teachers and administrators of early childhood education institutions.