Mitigasi Kecanduan Gadget pada Anak Sekolah Dasar melalui Edukasi Kesehatan Berbasis Role Play

Abstract

The rapid advancement of digital technology has significantly altered children's daily lives, frequently leading to excessive gadget consumption. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indonesian Ministry of Health have established strict screen time guidelines to mitigate adverse physical, mental, and social impacts, a substantial number of school-age children continue to exceed these limits. This community service program aimed to enhance the awareness of elementary school students regarding the hazards of gadget addiction through a role-play-based educational intervention. Conducted at an elementary school in West Lombok, the program utilized interactive role-playing scenarios to concretely illustrate the negative consequences of excessive screen time and to promote healthy alternative activities, such as traditional non-digital games and outdoor sports. The results indicated that the interactive role-play method effectively captured the students' interest and significantly improved their comprehension of healthy gadget usage. Following the intervention, participants demonstrated a heightened awareness of screen time limits and a strong willingness to engage in physical and educational activities outside of digital screens. In conclusion, interactive role-play serves as a highly effective pedagogical tool for early prevention of gadget dependency and promoting healthier lifestyles among elementary school children.