The Effect of Talking Flashcards on Geometric Shape Recognition among Children Aged 3–4 Years

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31000/ceria.v15i3.16819

Keywords:

Early Childhood Education, Geometric Shape Recognition, Learning Media, Talking Flashcards

Abstract

Recognizing geometric shapes is an essential component of early childhood cognitive development that supports spatial reasoning and foundational mathematical skills. Preliminary observations at KB Fi Dhilalil Qur'an, Banyuwangi, indicated that children aged 3–4 years experienced difficulties in identifying, naming, and classifying basic geometric shapes. This study aimed to examine changes in children's geometric shape recognition abilities following the implementation of Talking Flashcard media. A quantitative approach employing a pre-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design was conducted with 13 children selected through total sampling. Data were collected using an observation instrument covering three indicators: naming, identifying, and classifying geometric shapes. The findings revealed an increase in the mean score from 6.00 in the pretest to 9.15 in the posttest, representing a mean improvement of 3.15 points. The Shapiro–Wilk test yielded significance values of 0.132 and 0.084 for the pretest and posttest, respectively. A paired-samples t-test indicated a statistically significant difference between pretest and posttest scores, t(12) = −30.281, p < .001. The greatest proportional improvement was observed in the ability to name geometric shapes (87.8%). These findings suggest that Talking Flashcards may be a promising learning medium for supporting geometric shape recognition among children aged 3–4 years. However, further research involving control groups and larger samples is recommended to establish their effectiveness more conclusively.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aslan, D., & Arnas, Y. A. (2007). Three- to six-year-old children's recognition of geometric shapes. International Journal of Early Years Education, 15(1), 83–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760601106646

Azhima, I., Meilanie, R. S. M., & Purwanto, A. (2021). Penggunaan media flashcard untuk mengenalkan matematika permulaan pada anak usia dini. Jurnal Obsesi: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 5(2), 2008–2016. https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v5i2.1091

Ferrara, K., Hirsh-Pasek, K., Newcombe, N. S., Golinkoff, R. M., & Lam, W. S. (2011). Block talk: Spatial language during block play. Mind, Brain, and Education, 5(3), 143–151. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-228X.2011.01122.x

Fisher, K. R., Hirsh-Pasek, K., Newcombe, N., & Golinkoff, R. M. (2013). Taking shape: Supporting preschoolers' acquisition of geometric knowledge through guided play. Child Development, 84(6), 1872–1878. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12091

Fitriana, N., & Widayati, S. (2025). Development of G-MAG media on the ability to recognize the concepts of triangle and square in children aged 5–6 years. Ceria: Jurnal Program Studi Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 14(3), 715–729. https://doi.org/10.31000/ceria.v14i3.14534

Gecu-Parmaksiz, Z., & Delialioglu, O. (2019). Augmented reality-based virtual manipulatives versus physical manipulatives for teaching geometric shapes to preschool children. British Journal of Educational Technology, 50(6), 3376–3390. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12740

Hamida, A. I., & Aulina, C. N. (2021). Pengaruh media tangram terhadap kemampuan mengenal bentuk geometri anak usia dini. PAUD Lectura: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 4(2), 8–16.

Hirsh-Pasek, K., Zosh, J. M., Golinkoff, R. M., Gray, J. H., Robb, M. B., & Kaufman, J. (2015). Putting education in “educational” apps: Lessons from the science of learning. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 16(1), 3–34. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100615569721

Knapp, T. R. (2016). Why is the one-group pretest–posttest design still used? Clinical Nursing Research, 25(5), 467–472. https://doi.org/10.1177/1054773816666280

Libertus, M., Miller, P., Zippert, E. L., Bachman, H. J., & Votruba-Drzal, E. (2024). Predicting individual differences in preschoolers’ numeracy and geometry knowledge: The role of understanding abstract relations between objects and quantities. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 247, Article 106035. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2024.106035

Matondang, L. E., Hastuti, T., Rahayu KW, Y., Mustaghfiroh, S., & Hidayanti, L. (2022). Flashcard media as a game tool to improve early childhood cognitive abilities. TEMATIK: Jurnal Pemikiran dan Penelitian Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.26858/tematik.v8i2.27551

Novriyanti, I., & Zettira, Z. (2025). Improving early childhood cognitive skills through geometry pouch media. Ceria: Jurnal Program Studi Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 14(2), 356–372. https://doi.org/10.31000/ceria.v14i2.13319

O’Rear, C. D., Zippert, E. L., Ehrman, P., Westerberg, L., Lonigan, C. J., & Purpura, D. J. (2023). Use them or lose them: Are manipulatives needed to assess numeracy and geometry performance in preschool? Infant and Child Development, 32(5), Article e2444. https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.2444

Öğütcen, A., & Akman, B. (2022). Okul öncesi dönem çocuklarının geometrik şekil algılarının incelenmesi. Marmara Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim Fakültesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 55, 87–105. https://doi.org/10.15285/maruaebd.928322

Pruden, S. M., Levine, S. C., & Huttenlocher, J. (2011). Children’s spatial thinking: Does talk about the spatial world matter? Developmental Science, 14(6), 1417–1430. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7687.2011.01088.x

Puspitasari, G. R., Kristiana, D., & Muttaqin, M. A. (2026). Pengaruh media pembelajaran GeoPlay 3D terhadap pengenalan bentuk geometri pada anak usia dini. PAUDIA: Jurnal Penelitian dalam Bidang Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 15(2), 322–332. https://doi.org/10.26877/paudia.v15i2.3360

Putri, A. A., & Suparno. (2020). Recognize geometry shapes through computer learning in early math skills. JPUD - Jurnal Pendidikan Usia Dini, 14(1), 50–64. https://doi.org/10.21009/JPUD.141.04

Rahayu, Y. T., Meilani, S. M., & Hapidin. (2019). The effectiveness of mathematics learning outcomes through smart pocket card media (picture card and number card) in the ABA 15 Kindergarten. Indonesian Journal of Early Childhood Education Studies, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.15294/ijeces.v8i2.34235

Riadoh, R., Futri, M., Aulia, R., & Nur, K. (2025). Implementasi media flashcard dalam mengenalkan konsep permulaan matematika pada anak usia dini. Ta’rim: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Anak Usia Dini, 6(1), 21–33. https://doi.org/10.59059/tarim.v6i1.1823

Shapiro, S. S., & Wilk, M. B. (1965). An analysis of variance test for normality (complete samples). Biometrika, 52(3–4), 591–611. https://doi.org/10.1093/biomet/52.3-4.591

Skene, K., O’Farrelly, C. M., Byrne, E. M., Kirby, N., Stevens, E. C., & Ramchandani, P. G. (2022). Can guidance during play enhance children’s learning and development in educational contexts? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Child Development, 93(4), 1162–1180. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13730

Taborda-Osorio, H., & Otálora, Y. (2023). Effects of a 3-factor field intervention on numerical and geometric knowledge in preschool children. PLOS ONE, 18(11), Article e0290956. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290956

Uttal, D. H., Meadow, N. G., Tipton, E., Hand, L. L., Alden, A. R., Warren, C., & Newcombe, N. S. (2013). The malleability of spatial skills: A meta-analysis of training studies. Psychological Bulletin, 139(2), 352–402. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028446

Verdine, B. N., Golinkoff, R. M., Hirsh-Pasek, K., Newcombe, N. S., Filipowicz, A. T., & Chang, A. (2014b). Deconstructing building blocks: Preschoolers’ spatial assembly performance relates to early mathematical skills. Child Development, 85(3), 1062–1076. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12165

Verdine, B. N., Irwin, C. M., Golinkoff, R. M., & Hirsh-Pasek, K. (2014a). Contributions of executive function and spatial skills to preschool mathematics achievement. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 126, 37–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2014.02.012

Downloads

Published

2026-10-21