PERAN PROGRAM RUANG BELAJAR DALAM MENINGKATKAN PEMAHAMAN ANAK TERHADAP DAMPAK BULLYING

Abstract

Bullying remains an issue that requires attention in children's lives because it can affect their social relationships, sense of safety, and emotional well-being. Limited understanding of the forms and impacts of bullying may make it difficult for children to distinguish between joking behavior and actions that can hurt others. This community service activity aimed to improve children's understanding of the forms, impacts, and appropriate ways of responding to bullying through the Ruang Belajar Program. The activity was conducted in Bakung Village, Neighborhood 2, involving 40 children aged 5–13 years. The activity employed an educational and participatory approach through material presentation, the “Yes or No” educational game, the “Expression Tree” activity, and observation of participants' involvement throughout the program. The results showed that the children actively participated in identifying bullying behaviors through various examples and were able to express their opinions and feelings through the activities provided. The use of games and creative activities helped create a more engaging learning environment and allowed bullying-related materials to be delivered in a manner appropriate to the participants' characteristics. Based on the implementation of the activity, the Ruang Belajar Program can serve as an educational medium for improving children's understanding and awareness of bullying while encouraging mutual respect in their relationships with peers. Similar educational activities should be conducted continuously with the support of parents, educators, and the community so that children's understanding of bullying prevention can be applied in their daily lives.