Introduction: This research aimed to investigate the impact of student-made artifacts on the improvement of motor and language skills in preschool children in Sari city during the academic year 1402-1403. The development of motor and language skills during this period is crucial for children's cognitive and social growth. Enhancing these skills through active learning methods, such as utilizing student-made artifacts, is a promising approach.
research methodology: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and control group elements. The population comprised 2,532 preschool children in Sari city. A random cluster sampling method was utilized, resulting in a final sample of 60 children divided into two groups of 30 (experimental and control). The experimental group participated in 10 sessions, each lasting 45 minutes, focused on creating handmade objects, while the control group received no intervention. Data collection instruments included the Lincoln-Ozeretsky Motor Skills Assessment and the Barton Verbal Skills Questionnaire. The validity of these instruments was confirmed through face validity, and their reliability coefficients were 0.96 for the motor skills questionnaire and 0.94 for the verbal skills questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the F-test.
Findings: The results indicated a significant increase in the post-test mean scores of the experimental group compared to the control group. ANOVA, after controlling for pre-test effects, demonstrated that student-created artifacts positively impacted the improvement of both motor and verbal skills (F = 57.15, p < 0.05). Specifically, the experimental group achieved higher average scores in motor skills post-intervention. Furthermore, the results revealed that the post-test mean scores for verbal skills in the experimental group were significantly greater than those in the control group, indicating a positive impact of this educational intervention on enhancing students' language abilities.
Conclusion: The research demonstrates that utilizing student-made crafts significantly enhances the motor and language skills of preschoolers. These activities not only improve children's physical and linguistic capabilities but also promote greater engagement and interaction within the learning process. Based on these findings, it is recommended that similar interventions be more widely incorporated into preschool curricula to foster children's overall development