PENINGKATAN MINAT BACA ANAK-ANAK MELALUI PROGRAM LITERASI INTERAKTIF DI TAMAN BACAAN PARIGI, SAWANGAN, DEPOK

Abstract

The Community Service Program "Increasing Children's Reading Interest through Interactive Literacy Program at Parigi Reading Park, Sawangan, Depok" was held for four months with the aim of increasing children's interest and reading habits through an interactive and participatory approach. This program uses a variety of methods including read aloud, expressive storytelling, story discussions, literacy games, and creative workshops. The results of the program showed a significant increase in various literacy indicators: the percentage of children with regular reading habits increased from 28% to 73%, reading duration increased from 15-20 minutes to 35-45 minutes per session, and the rate of book borrowing jumped from 15 books to 95 books per week. The program has also succeeded in building local capacity through training of reading park managers and volunteers, as well as increasing parental involvement by 68% in assisting children's literacy activities at home. The physical transformation of the reading garden into a more attractive and comfortable space, combined with the formation of a collaborative network with the literacy community and the library, creates a holistic and sustainable literacy ecosystem. Despite facing obstacles related to children's limited time, differences in reading ability, and limited resources, these challenges can be overcome through intensive communication and multi-stakeholder collaboration. This program proves that interactive approaches are very effective in changing children's perceptions of reading from boring activities to fun activities, as well as demonstrating the strategic role of community reading gardens as alternative learning spaces that complement formal education in building a literacy culture. This program model has the potential to be replicated in other literacy communities with local context adjustments.