Collage and montage as collaborative experiential learning: A qualitative description of children’s creativity and emotional regulation and pre-service PG-PAUD students’ facilitation practices
Keywords:
Collage, Emotional regulation, Experiential learning, Montage, PG-PAUD CollaborationAbstract
This study describes the implementation of experiential learning through collage and montage art activities in relation to creativity and emotional regulation in early childhood education. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach within Kolb’s experiential learning framework, the research was conducted at an early childhood education center in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Twenty-one pre-service Early Childhood Teacher Education (PG-PAUD) university students served as facilitators for 40 preschool children aged 4–6 years. Data were collected through structured observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation of artworks and reflective journals, then analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s interactive model. Results indicate that locally sourced natural materials, including dried leaves and fabric scraps, facilitated concrete sensory experiences bridging tactile exploration and emotional expression. Observational findings were associated with behaviors reflecting children’s fine motor coordination, divergent thinking, and capacity to externalize complex emotions through process-oriented artmaking. The collaborative facilitation process was associated with evidence of university students’ pedagogical empathy, emotional attunement, and reflective teaching practices. These findings suggest that culturally grounded, art-based experiential learning, facilitated collaboratively by pre-service teachers, offers a promising contextual approach worth further investigation for supporting holistic development in early childhood education settings.
Downloads
References
Alam, S., Totok Sumaryanto, F., & Jazuli, M. (2020). Visual culture-based art learning uses internet to improve higher-order thinking skills in early childhood. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research, 9(2), 3847–3851.
Albar, S. B., & Southcott, J. E. (2021). Problem and project-based learning through an investigation lesson: Significant gains in creative thinking behaviour within the Australian foundation (preparatory) classroom. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 41. doi:10.1016/j.tsc.2021.100857
Andani, F., Aulia, D., Azzahra, F., Akram, A. S., Anggrayani, H., & Nurhaliza, F. (2025). Peran mahasiswa program asistensi mengajar dalam mengembangkan kreativitas anak usia dini: Studi kasus di TK Hang Tuah Bengkulu. Ta’rim: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Anak Usia Dini, 6(3). doi:10.59059/tarim.v6i3.2827
Anjani, R. (2024). Practical strategies for stimulating creativity in early childhood: STEAM approach, parent involvement, and environmental support. Seulanga: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak, 5(2). doi:10.47766/seulanga.v5i2.3921
Biber, K. (2025). Effects of art literacy–based visual arts activities on verbal expression, emotional language, and symbolic thinking in children aged 48–72 months. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR). Retrieved from http://www.ijfmr.com
Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and education. New York, NY: Macmillan.
Fitriyah, N., & Kurniawati, F. (2025). Fostering creativity in primary education: A literature review of creative pedagogy strategies, facilitators, and barriers. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 17(3), 5142–5157. doi:10.35445/alishlah.v17i3.7057
Gapur, A., Taulia, T., Mawaddah, A., Nasution, L., & Hasanah, K. N. (2022). Pelatihan Penggunaan Aizuchi dalam Percakapan Mahasiswa Bahasa Jepang Universitas Harapan Medan. Jurnal ABDIMAS Budi Darma, 3(1), 15–19. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.30865/pengabdian.v3i1.5667
Goldstein, T. R., & Winner, E. (2012). Enhancing empathy and theory of mind. Journal of Cognition and Development, 13(1), 19–37. doi:10.1080/15248372.2011.573514
González-Zamar, M.-D., & Abad-Segura, E. (2021). Emotional creativity in art education: An exploratory analysis and research trends. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6209. doi:10.3390/ijerph18126209
Jamin, N. S., Mannassai, A. F., & Zakaria, S. I. (2025). Pemanfaatan instrumen observasi sebagai dasar asesmen perkembangan anak usia dini. Ta’rim: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Anak Usia Dini, 6(4). doi:10.59059/tarim.v6i4.2882
Jazariyah, Athifah, N. Z., Purnamasari, Y. M., & Lita. (2023). Fostering creative thinking in early learners through STEAM-based ecoprint projects. Golden Age: Jurnal Ilmiah Tumbuh Kembang Anak Usia Dini, 8(4), 311–322. doi:10.14421/jga.2023.84-10
Julaikah, S. (2025). The effect of finger painting on early childhood artistic expression: A quasi-experimental study. Artistic Studies, 1(1), 19–23. doi:10.58920/art0101412
Kao, C. P., Lin, K. Y., & Williams, P. J. (2025). The influence of STEAM-based block play on creative imagination and performance in preschool children: A latent growth curve model. International Journal of Technology and Design Education. doi:10.1007/s10798-025-09934-3
Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Lubis, N. H., Wahyuni, A., & Daulay, A. M. (2025). Analisis kemampuan motorik halus anak melalui kegiatan kolase di RA Darussalam Kota Siantar. Khirani: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 3(1), 95–108. doi:10.47861/khirani.v3i1.1564
Meilani, M., & Hanafiah, N. A. (2026). Creative learning ecosystems in early childhood education: Integrating arts, technology, and nature exploration. GEMILANG: Early Childhood Education Programs, 3(1), 39. doi:10.62872/922vdb98
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Parwoto, P., Ilyas, S. N., Bachtiar, M. Y., & Marzuki, K. (2024). Fostering creativity in kindergarten: The impact of collaborative project-based learning. South African Journal of Childhood Education, 14(1). doi:10.4102/sajce.v14i1.1415
Ponce-Delgado, A., Pocevičienė, R., & Rubira-García, R. (2024). Developing creative potential in school children through museums as cultural institutions: A case study in Madrid, Spain. Education Sciences, 14(3), 261. doi:10.3390/educsci14030261
Rahman, A. A., Mannassai, A. F., Arif, N. A., Ismail, S. K. N., & Puluhulawa, G. A. (2025). Analisis kolaborasi guru dan orang tua dalam menindaklanjuti hasil asesmen observasi terhadap pengembangan regulasi diri anak usia dini. Ta’rim: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Anak Usia Dini, 6(4). doi:10.59059/tarim.v6i4.2884
Ramadhani, N., Intisari, Amri, N. A., Akib, T., & Hajerah. (2025). Enhancing life science skills in early childhood through culturally relevant project-based learning: A quasi-experimental study. Golden Age: Jurnal Ilmiah Tumbuh Kembang Anak Usia Dini, 10(1), 1–11. doi:10.14421/jga.2025.101.01
Ramadhanti, F. T. A. V., Anggrayani, H., Sari, T. P., Juwita, I. R., & Fauziah, N. (2025). Pengembangan kemampuan sosial emosional anak usia dini melalui kegiatan bermain peran. Ta’rim: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Anak Usia Dini, 6(3). doi:10.59059/tarim.v6i3.2826
Runco, M. A., & Acar, S. (2012). Divergent thinking as an indicator of creative potential. Creativity Research Journal, 24(1), 66–75. doi:10.1080/10400419.2012.652929
Samaniego, M., Usca, N., Salguero, J., & Quevedo, W. (2024). Creative thinking in art and design education: A systematic review. Education Sciences, 14(2), 192. doi:10.3390/educsci14020192
Setiawan, D., Hardiyani, I. K., Aulia, A., & Hidayat, A. (2022). Memaknai kecerdasan melalui aktivitas seni: Analisis kualitatif pengembangan kreativitas pada anak usia dini. Jurnal Obsesi: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 6(5), 4507–4518. doi:10.31004/obsesi.v6i5.2521
She, L., Wang, Z., Tao, X., & Lai, L. (2024). The impact of color cues on the learning performance in video lectures. Behavioral Sciences, 14(7), 560. doi:10.3390/bs14070560
Thümmler, R., Engel, E.-M., & Bartz, J. (2022). Strengthening emotional development and emotion regulation in childhood — As a key task in early childhood education. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 3978. doi:10.3390/ijerph19073978
Vecchi, V. (2010). Art and creativity in Reggio Emilia: Exploring the role and potential of ateliers in early childhood education. London, England: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780203854679
Wahyuningsih, S., Rasmani, U. E. E., Winarji, B., Nurjanah, N. E., Jumiatmoko, Fitrianingtyas, A., et al. (2024). Enhancing early childhood teachers’ creativity through the implementation of the Merdeka curriculum: An experimental study in Surakarta. Golden Age: Jurnal Ilmiah Tumbuh Kembang Anak Usia Dini, 9(4), 747–756.
Zaidah, V. M., & Ariyati, T. (2024). The art of growth: Understanding the impact of creative arts on children’s development in early education. 3rd International Conference of Humanities and Social Science (ICHSS), 16–19. Retrieved from https://programdoktorpbiuns.org/index.php/proceedings/article/view/252
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Cahyo Wahyu Darmawan, Helna Fitriana , Alis Triena Permanasari, Putri Dyah Indriyani (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Authors agree to publish their work under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
- Authors retain copyright to their work and may reuse or distribute it.
- HUMANIOLA reserves the right to request revisions and make final publication decisions.
- Authors are responsible for ensuring that their work does not infringe upon third-party copyrights.
- Archiving in digital repositories may be done for long-term access and preservation.




