TINGKAH LAKU SOSIAL ANAK TK SERTA IMPLIKASINYA BAGI BIMBINGAN DAN KONSELING

Preschool children are in the phase of growth and development who many of them face some barriers, problems and difficulties that sometimes require help of others, especially from professional. The problems, which are not properly completed, tend to cause problems and barriers neither in today’s children, nor after the children enter primary school. The question is what problems experienced by the children viewed from the aspect of growth and development. The purpose of the study are (1) describing problems experienced by preschool children based on developmental aspects, (2) reviewing the implications towards guidance and counseling. The study population was preschool children in Malang. The sample were 245 children’s parents and 12 teachers selected by cluster random sampling technique. Measuring instruments used were questionnaires (for teachers and parents), and an interview guide (for teachers). The research findings revealed five groups of problems experienced by children; that are, social, emotional, moral, developmental understanding, and language problems. According to teachers and parents, these problems are not easily taken for granted, but assessed by asking a few questions; whether the problem is reasonable behavior, the behavior that can be potential to the problematic behavior, and or behavioral problems. This article only discussed the social behavior of preschool children and the implications through counseling. The implications is the teachers need to provide guidance and counseling services for children, especially counseling activity that serves as preventive and development. The forms of assistance activities that need to be implemented by the teachers are role playing, modeling, and mentoring groups. The activity was held integrated with learning activities in preschool.