PENDEKATAN INKUIRI SEBAGAI STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN KEMAMPUAN BERPIKIR KRITIS ANAK USIA DINI: STUDI LITERATUR
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61722/jssr.v4i6.13158Keywords:
pendekatan inkuiri, berpikir kritis, anak usia dini, studi literatur, scaffolding pedagogisAbstract
Kemampuan berpikir kritis merupakan fondasi esensial dalam era abad ke-21 yang perlu dirintis sejak usia dini agar anak terbiasa mengajukan pertanyaan, menganalisis hubungan sebab-akibat, memprediksi hasil, dan memberikan alasan rasional. Pendekatan inkuiri dipandang sangat berpotensi mendukung proses tersebut karena menempatkan anak sebagai agen eksplorasi aktif melalui penyelidikan berbasis fenomena nyata. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis bentuk-bentuk penerapan pendekatan inkuiri pada Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini (PAUD), kontribusinya terhadap indikator berpikir kritis, serta faktor pendukung dan penentu keberhasilan penerapannya. Kajian menggunakan desain Systematic Literature Review (SLR) terhadap 15 artikel penelitian empiris terbitan 2021–2026 dari basis data bereputasi. Hasil sintesis terpadu menunjukkan bahwa penerapan inkuiri pada PAUD mewujud dalam tiga skema utama: eksplorasi sains eksperimental, inquiry project-based learning/STEM, dan eksplorasi bahan terbuka (loose parts). Aspek berpikir kritis yang paling dominan berkembang meliputi kemampuan merumuskan pertanyaan bermakna, menganalisis dan membandingkan sifat objek, memprediksi fenomena, serta memberikan argumen sederhana. Kesiapan guru, kompetensi scaffolding, dan lingkungan belajar kaya stimulasi menjadi variabel kualitatif penentu keberhasilan. Kajian ini menyimpulkan bahwa inkuiri secara konsisten memicu penalaran kritis anak usia dini ketika ditopang oleh interaksi pedagogis yang responsif dan reflektif.
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