The Effect of Gadget on Children’s Social Capability

Brauner & Stephens argued that around 9.5% to 14.2% of early childhood children have emotional social problems that have a negative impact on the development and readiness of their schools due to children's habits in using gadgets. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between the use of gadgets for children's social emotional development in PGRI 2 Rangkasbitung Kindergarten. This research implemented quantitative research approach. This study uses a questionnaire or questionnaire sheet in collecting data, with a total sample of 33 respondents. The results of this study indicate that the majority of children use gadgets with a duration of> 60 minutes per day which is around 60.61%, the type of gadget used in the form of smartphones / mobile phones is 84.85%, and applications that are often used are games (66.67% ) and games played in the form of educational games (60.61%). Based on the results of the study there were 60.61% or as many as 20 children have normal / good social emotional development, this is because the majority of children in PGRI 2 Rangkasbitung kindergarten are more utilizing the sophistication of gadgets towards more positive ones such as knowing numbers, getting to know animals, colors, and to communicate while far apart. It is also related to the characteristics of respondents who stated that around 66.67% of respondents did not work which meant that respondents had more time to accompany their children in using gadgets. The result of Chi-Square correlation test between gadget duration and social emotional development obtained p-value 0.011 (p <0.05) which means that there is a significant relationship between the duration of gadget usage on children's social emotional development in PGRI 2 Rangkasbitung Kindergarten. Based on the results of the study, it is advisable for parents to accompany their children in using gadgets as well as providing time limits, checking gadgets and choosing games and spectacle applications that can hone child development.