NERS NEWS — Surabaya – Group 2, Class A1, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, conducted a Project-Based Learning (PJBL) activity entitled “CERIA: From Play to Growth, The Role of Mothers in Optimizing Child Stimulation Through Educational Play Tools (APE)” on Thursday, May 21, 2026, in RW 05, Kalijudan Subdistrict, Surabaya. This activity was an implementation of learning from the courses Healthy and Acute Ill Child Nursing, Maternity Nursing, and Psychosocial and Cultural Aspects in Nursing, aimed at improving mothers’ knowledge and skills in optimizing the growth and development stimulation of children aged 1–5 years through the use of Educational Play Tools (APE).
The activity began with participant registration, an opening session, and a pre-test to assess participants’ initial knowledge regarding child growth and development stimulation. Subsequently, the students provided educational sessions and presented materials on the concepts of Asah, Asih, and Asuh (learning, affection, and caregiving), the concept of child stimulation, the impact of insufficient stimulation on child development, and the importance of parental roles in supporting child growth and development from an early age. The materials were delivered interactively to help participants understand the importance of providing stimulation appropriate to a child’s developmental stage.
In addition to the educational presentations, the activity also included demonstrations on the use of Educational Play Tools (APE) as a medium for stimulating child growth and development. Participants were introduced to various types of APE and how to use them according to developmental tasks at different age groups. Through practical sessions and question-and-answer discussions, mothers gained direct experience in providing enjoyable, safe, and developmentally appropriate stimulation for their children.
The CERIA Program represents the implementation of nursing knowledge acquired by students through the courses Healthy and Acute Ill Child Nursing, Maternity Nursing, and Psychosocial and Cultural Aspects in Nursing. This activity also supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, Good Health and Well-Being, through promotive and preventive efforts aimed at supporting optimal child growth and development.
The chairperson of the activity, Magdalena, stated that education regarding child growth and development stimulation should be provided continuously because parents play the primary role in supporting children’s development from an early age. “Through the CERIA Program, we hope that parents, especially mothers, will understand the importance of providing stimulation that is appropriate to their child’s developmental stage and be able to apply it in daily life through educational and enjoyable play activities,” she said. Therefore, this activity is expected to increase parents’ awareness and skills in preventing developmental delays through appropriate stimulation.
The CERIA activity is expected to serve as a concrete step in increasing public awareness of the importance of stimulating child growth and development through educational play. In addition to benefiting participants, this activity also serves as a platform for students to directly apply their competencies in healthy and acute ill child nursing, maternity nursing, and psychosocial and cultural nursing within the community.
Writer: Aulia Cantikasari (Secretary of PJBL Group 2 Class A1/2024)
