Adaptive Storytelling Approach as a Communication Media for Autistic Children at Tunas Bakti Kindergarten

Abstract

Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience difficulties in communication and social interaction. Storytelling has been identified as a potentially effective method to enhance these abilities. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an adaptive storytelling approach in improving communication and storytelling skills in children with ASD. Methods: This research employed a descriptive qualitative method. The subjects were three children with ASD aged 6–7 years at TK Tunas Bhakti. The storytelling intervention was conducted over four sessions using various media (real fruits, animated videos, and hand puppets). Data were collected through observation, pre- and post-interviews, and documentation. Results: The findings showed a significant improvement in storytelling and communication skills among all participants after the three sessions. The children became more enthusiastic, confident, actively engaged, and were better able to retell the stories. Conclusion: The adaptive storytelling approach using diverse media proved to be effective in enhancing communication and storytelling abilities in children with ASD. This method also fostered self-confidence and social interaction. Further research is recommended to explore the generalizability of the findings to a larger population.