Transforming Early Childhood Education Management: Cognitive Development Strategies in Trilingual School

Abstract

This study explores the impact of transformative early childhood education (PAUD) management on cognitive development strategies in trilingual schools in Jember Regency, Indonesia. As trilingual education, which integrates Indonesian, English, and Chinese, becomes increasingly popular, this study investigates how curriculum integration, teacher training, and parental involvement contribute to cognitive growth in young learners. This study used a qualitative case study design, which focused on the Three Languages Rukun Harapan Kindergarten, and used interviews, observations, and documentation as the main data collection methods. The findings suggest that while effective management practices improve cognitive flexibility, language processing, and memory memory, challenges such as inadequate professional development for teachers and a lack of individualized tasks remain. The study advocates a balanced approach that combines group-based and individual-based learning activities, proposing implications for policymakers and education leaders to optimize cognitive outcomes in multilingual early childhood settings.