“DPS KENJERAN CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT BODY PRIVACY THROUGH MOVEMENT AND SONGS”

Surabaya – Seven female students from Group 22 of the Early Childhood Teacher Education Study Program (PG-PAUD), Faculty of Education, State University of Surabaya (UNESA), conducted the third and final volunteer session entitled “Express Your Smile: I Am My Own Star!” on the third Tuesday of the month from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Dharma Putra Swadaya (DPS) Social Unit in Kenjeran, Surabaya. The activity aimed to foster young children's awareness of self-protection, particularly in understanding body privacy boundaries, through interactive activities such as worksheets, group movement-and-song activities, appreciation sessions, and a meaningful farewell gathering.

This program marked the conclusion of a three-week volunteer series conducted as part of the implementation of the Child Protection Advocacy course. Approximately 15 kindergarten-aged children participated in the session. Having attended the previous learning sessions, the children had developed a close emotional connection with the university students.

The activity began in a cheerful atmosphere with an ice-breaking session featuring clapping games and group movements led by the program coordinator. The children appeared increasingly confident and enthusiastic in participating throughout the activities, demonstrating positive growth compared to previous meetings. The warm and friendly environment provided an important foundation for delivering a sensitive topic in a safe, age-appropriate, and enjoyable manner.

During the main session, the children were introduced to the concept of body parts and private body areas through a simple and developmentally appropriate approach. The information was presented carefully to ensure that the children could understand it easily without feeling frightened. Instead, the activity focused on building awareness of the importance of personal safety. The children learned which parts of their bodies should not be touched by others and how to respond when they encounter situations that make them feel uncomfortable.

Following the discussion, the children completed worksheets featuring illustrations of boys and girls. They were asked to identify and label different body parts on the images. This activity reinforced the concepts introduced earlier while also supporting fine motor development through writing tasks. Throughout the activity, the university students provided individual guidance and assistance to each child.

The atmosphere became even more lively during the movement-and-song session. The children were divided into small groups and took turns performing a song about body privacy while demonstrating movements that matched the lyrics. This activity served as an enjoyable way to reinforce the learning material while also encouraging confidence and courage in performing in front of their peers.

As a form of appreciation, all children received small gifts consisting of school supplies such as pencils, erasers, rulers, and sharpeners. These gifts symbolized recognition of their participation and enthusiasm throughout the program. A group photo session was also held to capture the meaningful moments shared during the activities.

As the program approached its conclusion, the atmosphere became more emotional during the farewell session. The university students greeted each child personally, mentioned their names, and offered words of encouragement. This heartfelt moment served as a warm closing activity and strengthened the emotional bonds that had been formed throughout the volunteer program.

The session concluded with a collective prayer and a farewell song. Overall, the volunteer program not only provided enjoyable and meaningful learning experiences for the children but also offered valuable opportunities for the university students to contribute directly to supporting early childhood development, particularly in the area of self-protection and personal safety awareness. It is hoped that this experience will create a lasting positive impact on both the children and the student volunteers as future educators.