Dancing is Thinking for Children: Working Memory, Inhibition, and Mental Flexibility

Erie Siti Syarah; Mohamad Syarif  Sumantri; Yuli Rahmawati; Fasli Jalal; Elindra Yetti

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2021) IEJEE

Dancing is Thinking for Children: Working Memory, Inhibition, and Mental Flexibility

Erie Siti Syarah
Mohamad Syarif Sumantri
Yuli Rahmawati
Fasli Jalal
Elindra Yetti

Published January 28, 2022 | Pages: 135-146 | Views: 1123

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Abstract

Sharpening working memory skills, inhibition, and mental flexibility of children in many studies have proven school readiness and long-term academic success. The aim of this research is to determine the impact of dancing and listening to music on children's executive functions using the interpretive paradigm with a qualitative case study method. The respondents were seven parents of children aged between 7-8 years. This study used online interviews for the data collection. A typological analysis of qualitative data acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic in the dimensions of working memory, inhibition, and mental flexibility was used to categorize how children's executive functioning might develop in parental care. Several typologies were identified, giving rise to three ideal typologies as a result of the analysis of research questions. Firstly, it is important to develop children's working memory through different new strategies (typology 1); secondly, positive reinforcement was the strongest factor in inhibition development (typology 2); and finally, dancing with music as a support for mental development and development of thinking (typology 3). The research outcomes require increasing adults’ abilities around children to manage diverse learning stimuli and integrate art in them to build working memory, inhibition, and ideal mental flexibility of children.

<p>Sharpening working memory skills, inhibition, and mental flexibility of children in many studies have proven school readiness and long-term academic success. The aim of this research is to determine the impact of dancing and listening to music on children's executive functions using the&nbsp;interpretive&nbsp;paradigm&nbsp;with a qualitative case study method. The respondents were seven parents of children aged between 7-8 years. This study used online interviews for the data collection. A typological analysis of qualitative data acquired during the&nbsp;COVID-19&nbsp;pandemic in the dimensions of working memory, inhibition, and mental flexibility&nbsp;was used&nbsp;to categorize how children's executive functioning might develop in parental care. Several&nbsp;typologies&nbsp;were identified, giving rise to three ideal&nbsp;typologies&nbsp;as a result of the analysis of research questions. Firstly, it is important to develop children's working memory through different new strategies (typology 1); secondly, positive reinforcement was the strongest&nbsp;factor&nbsp;in inhibition development (typology 2); and finally, dancing with music as a support for mental development and development of thinking (typology 3). The research outcomes require increasing adults’ abilities around children to manage diverse learning stimuli and integrate art in them to build working memory, inhibition, and ideal mental&nbsp;flexibility of children.</p>

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Keywords

dance for children, inhibition, mental flexibility, working memory

Affiliations

Erie Siti Syarah

Universitas Negeri Jakarta

Mohamad Syarif Sumantri

Universitas Negeri Jakarta

Yuli Rahmawati

Universitas Negeri Jakarta

Fasli Jalal

YARSI University

Elindra Yetti

Universitas Negeri Jakarta

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Siti Syarah, E., Sumantri, M. S. ., Rahmawati, Y., Jalal, F., & Yetti, E. (2022). Dancing is Thinking for Children: Working Memory, Inhibition, and Mental Flexibility. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 14(2), 135–146. Retrieved from https://iejee.com/index.php/IEJEE/article/view/1746