Program Young Athletes (YA) pertama kali diperkenalkan melalui kegiatan sosialisasi yang dilakukan bekerja sama dengan Suku Dinas Pendidikan Jakarta Timur Wilayah 1 dan 2. Dalam kegiatan tersebut, para guru TK se-Jakarta Timur diajak untuk mengenal program ini, memahami manfaatnya, dan mempelajari cara menggunakan alat-alat yang disediakan. Dari sinilah perjalanan YA di TK Kartika VIII-2 Kramat Jati dimulai.
Manfaat Young Athletes terbukti sangat luar biasa untuk anak-anak. Sejak program ini mulai diterapkan, anak-anak langsung menunjukkan antusiasme tinggi terhadap berbagai aktivitas gerak. Mereka menjadi lebih teratur dan fokus. Jika sebelumnya banyak anak yang bergerak tidak beraturan, kini setelah dikenalkan alat dan aktivitas dari YA, mereka terlihat lebih bersemangat dan mampu mengikuti instruksi dengan lebih baik. Aktivitas yang dulu sering dilakukan secara asal-asalan berubah menjadi kegiatan yang menyenangkan dan bermakna.
Mayoritas anak di sekolah ini cenderung sangat aktif. Mereka biasanya tidak mau mengantre dan selalu ingin bermain duluan. Namun melalui YA, mereka belajar aturan baru: untuk bisa bermain, mereka harus tertib terlebih dahulu. Jika tidak tertib, mereka tidak bisa ikut bermain. Aturan sederhana ini ternyata sangat efektif; anak-anak mulai memahami pentingnya disiplin dalam permainan maupun kegiatan belajar.
Beberapa aktivitas YA sebenarnya mirip dengan kegiatan TK sehari-hari, seperti melompat menggunakan alat atau bermain hoola hoop. Namun dengan adanya alat-alat yang lebih variatif dari program ini, gerakan yang dilakukan anak menjadi lebih terstruktur. Saat pertama kali diperkenalkan kepada para guru, sebagian dari mereka sempat bingung karena belum familiar dengan peralatannya. Tetapi setelah diberikan contoh, para guru justru termotivasi dan mulai rutin mengajak anak-anak bermain dalam kelas.
Dampaknya tidak berhenti di sekolah. Banyak anak pulang dan bercerita kepada orang tua tentang permainan baru yang mereka lakukan di kelas. Orang tua pun merasa senang melihat anak-anak mereka terlihat lebih ceria, lebih aktif, dan lebih menikmati kegiatan belajar.
Perubahan paling nyata terlihat sebelum kegiatan belajar dimulai. Biasanya pemanasan hanya dilakukan dengan bernyanyi, namun beberapa anak (terutama yang kesulitan fokus) tetap sulit untuk duduk diam. Setelah YA dijadikan kegiatan ice breaking sebelum belajar, anak-anak terlihat lebih siap. Mereka menyalurkan energi melalui aktivitas YA, sehingga ketika masuk kelas, mereka bisa lebih tenang dan fokus.
Karena manfaatnya yang begitu besar, sekolah berencana untuk terus melanjutkan program ini. Bahkan alat-alat YA sudah digunakan dalam lomba ketangkasan IGTKI, dan berkat pembiasaan latihan yang terstruktur, TK Kartika VIII-2 berhasil meraih Juara 1.
Young Athletes bukan hanya sekadar permainan. Program ini telah membantu anak-anak belajar disiplin, meningkatkan kemampuan motorik, dan menemukan kebahagiaan melalui aktivitas yang terarah dan menyenangkan, membuktikan bahwa pendekatan yang tepat dapat membawa perubahan nyata bagi perkembangan anak usia dini.
The Young Athletes (YA) Program was first introduced through a socialization event conducted in collaboration with the East Jakarta Education Sub-Department, Region 1 and Region 2. During this session, kindergarten teachers from across East Jakarta were invited to learn about the program, understand its benefits, and be trained on how to use the provided equipment. This became the starting point of YA’s implementation at TK Kartika VIII-2 Kramat Jati.
The impact of Young Athletes on the children has been remarkable. From the moment the program was introduced, the children showed great enthusiasm for the movement-based activities. They became more organized and focused. Previously, many children moved around without structure, but once they were introduced to the YA equipment and activities, they became more motivated and more capable of following instructions. Activities that were once done randomly turned into meaningful and enjoyable learning experiences.
Most of the children in the school are very active. They usually do not like to wait in line and always want to be the first to play. Through Young Athletes, they were introduced to a new rule: if they want to play, they must follow the queue and behave properly. If they are not disciplined, they are not allowed to join the activity. This simple rule has proven effective—children began to follow instructions and understand the importance of discipline in both play and learning.
Some YA activities are similar to the school’s regular routines, such as jumping or playing with hula hoops. However, with the more varied and structured equipment from the YA Program, these movements became more organized and purposeful. When the program was first introduced to the teachers, many felt unsure because they were not familiar with the tools. But after being shown how to use them, the teachers became motivated and began incorporating the activities into their classes.
The impact reached beyond the classroom. Many children went home and excitedly told their parents about the new games they played. Parents were happy to see their children more cheerful, active, and enthusiastic about learning.
One of the most significant changes was seen before classroom learning began. Previously, the warm-up consisted only of singing, but some children (especially those who found it difficult to concentrate) still could not sit still. When YA activities were used as an ice breaker before lessons, the children became more ready to learn. After channeling their energy through the YA activities, they entered the classroom calmer and more focused.
Because of its clear benefits, the school plans to continue implementing the program. The YA equipment has even been used in the IGTKI agility competition, where TK Kartika VIII-2 achieved 1st place thanks to the structured practice and familiarity developed through the program.
Young Athletes is more than just a set of games—it has helped children learn discipline, develop motor skills, and find joy through structured and meaningful physical activities, demonstrating how the right approach can create real impact in early childhood development.