This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Educational Applications and Digital Storytelling for Early Childhood Social Development
Corresponding Author(s) : Shofiyul Millah
Jurnal MENTARI: Manajemen, Pendidikan dan Teknologi Informasi,
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026): September
Abstract
The increasing integration of digital technology in early childhood education provides new opportunities to support children’s social development through educational applications and digital storytelling. This study aims to examine how the use of educational applications and digital storytelling influences children’s social development, particularly in communication, cooperation, empathy, and peer interaction. A quantitative approach was employed involving 188 early childhood learners, with data collected through structured questionnaires and observational assessments. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques to examine the relationship between digital learning media and children’s social development. The findings indicate that educational applications and digital storytelling have a positive impact on children’s social development. Interactive educational activities encourage children to communicate more actively, participate in collaborative tasks, express emotions, and develop empathy toward others. Digital storytelling further supports children’s understanding of social situations by presenting meaningful narratives, characters, and interpersonal experiences that are relevant to their daily lives. These findings suggest that the combination of educational applications and digital storytelling can provide an engaging learning environment that supports the development of essential social skills in early childhood. Therefore, educational applications and digital storytelling can be effectively utilized as complementary learning media when supported by appropriate teacher guidance and balanced with direct social interaction and collaborative activities.
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- A. Sakır, “The use of digital storytelling in early childhood education: A systematic review,” MIER Journal of Educational Studies Trends and Practices, pp. 18–46, 2026.
- C. Emi, S. Sardin, J. R. Pramudia, C. Sukmana, and F. Ferianti, “Educational technology in early childhood education: A systematic literature review,” The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational and Social Sciences, vol. 35, pp. 38–45, 2024.
- S. A. Khan, G. Poletti, F. N. Khan, and S. Hussain, “Digital storytelling: A pedagogical approach to enhance young learners social-emotional skills,” Review of Education, Administration & Law, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 219–228, 2025.
- M. D. Rahiem, “Storytelling in early childhood education: Time to go digital,” International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy, vol. 15, no. 1, p. 4, 2021.
- P. Paroli and R. Evans, “Charismatic leadership and participation strengthening innovation culture in hrm planning,” Aptisi Transactions on Technopreneurship (ATT), vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 537–550, 2026.
- A. Ata-Akt¨urk and M. Z. Sayan, “Digital storytelling in early childhood education: teachers’ experiences,” Early Years, pp. 1–18, 2026.
- C. Y. Quah and K. H. Ng, “A systematic literature review on digital storytelling authoring tool in education: January 2010 to january 2020,” International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, vol. 38, no. 9, pp. 851–867, 2022.
- J. R. Maranatha, H. Wulandari, and N. Briliany, “Early empathy: Impact of digital storytelling, traditional storytelling, and gender on early childhood,” JPUD-Jurnal Pendidikan Usia Dini, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 218–231, 2024.
- D. Manullang, H. Banjarnahor, and L. Simanjuntak, “Developing digital story telling and educational games to improve early childhood cognitive ability,” in 6th Annual International Seminar on Transformative Education and Educational Leadership (AISTEEL 2021). Atlantis Press, 2021, pp. 710–718.
- K. Ramalingam, Y. K. Jiar, and S. Mathiyazhagan, “Speaking skills enhancement through digital storytelling among primary school students in malaysia,” International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 22–35, 2022
- B. Novriyanti, M. Mardiana, N. Lutfiani, and K. Moyo, “Blockchain augmented ai architecture for strengthening cybersecurity and operational trust in modern business ecosystems,” ADI Journal on Recent Innovation (AJRI), vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 197–208, 2026.
- Y.-T. C. Yang, Y.-C. Chen, and H.-T. Hung, “Digital storytelling as an interdisciplinary project to improve students’ english speaking and creative thinking,” Computer Assisted Language Learning, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 840–862, 2022.
- D. Kim and M. Li, “Digital storytelling: Facilitating learning and identity development,” Journal of Computers in Education, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 33–61, 2021.
- D. Saripudin, K. Komalasari, and D. N. Anggraini, “Value-based digital storytelling learning media to foster student character.” International Journal of Instruction, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 369–384, 2021.
- M. Ubaidillah, R. T. Utami, and H. F. Pranatha, “Kajian sistematis teknik konseling storytelling untuk anak berkebutuhan khusus usia dini: Systematic literature review,” Jurnal Caksana: Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, vol. 7, no. 2, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://garuda.kemdiktisaintek.go.id/documents/detail/5290584
- J. S. Fu, S.-H. Yang, and H.-C. Yeh, “Exploring the impacts of digital storytelling on english as a foreign language learners’ speaking competence,” Journal of Research on Technology in Education, vol. 54, no. 5, pp. 679–694, 2022.
- H.-L. Chen and Y.-C. Chuang, “The effects of digital storytelling games on high school students’ critical thinking skills,” Journal of computer assisted learning, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 265–274, 2021.
- D. Manongga, I. Kovac, and M. Muhtarom, “Cyberpreneurial mindset as a driver of digital startup success in emerging digital economies,” Startupreneur Business Digital (SABDA Journal), vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 67–77, 2026.
- E. C¸ etin, “Digital storytelling in teacher education and its effect on the digital literacy of pre-service teachers,” Thinking Skills and Creativity, vol. 39, p. 100760, 2021.
- K. Hava, “Exploring the role of digital storytelling in student motivation and satisfaction in efl education,” Computer Assisted Language Learning, vol. 34, no. 7, pp. 958–978, 2021.
- F. Tanrıkulu, “Students’ perceptions about the effects of collaborative digital storytelling on writing skills,” Computer Assisted Language Learning, vol. 35, no. 5-6, pp. 1090–1105, 2022.
- N. Nicoli, K. Henriksen, M. Komodromos, and D. Tsagalas, “Investigating digital storytelling for the creation of positively engaging digital content,” EuroMed Journal of Business, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 157–173, 2022.
- D. Bailey, A. Southam, and J. Costley, “Digital storytelling with chatbots: Mapping l2 participation and perception patterns,” Interactive Technology and Smart Education, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 85–103, 2021.
- P. A. Sunarya, U. Rahardja, S. C. Chen, Y.-M. Lic, and M. Hardini, “Deciphering digital social dynamics: A comparative study of logistic regression and random forest in predicting e-commerce customer behavior,” Journal of Applied Data Sciences, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 100–113, 2024.
- N. Parsazadeh, P.-Y. Cheng, T.-T. Wu, and Y.-M. Huang, “Integrating computational thinking concept into digital storytelling to improve learners’ motivation and performance,” Journal of Educational Computing Research, vol. 59, no. 3, pp. 470–495, 2021.
- M. Kendrick, M. Early, A. Michalovich, and M. Mangat, “Digital storytelling with youth from refugee backgrounds: Possibilities for language and digital literacy learning,” Tesol Quarterly, vol. 56, no. 3, pp.961–984, 2022.
- A. Podara, D. Giomelakis, C. Nicolaou, M. Matsiola, and R. Kotsakis, “Digital storytelling in cultural heritage: Audience engagement in the interactive documentary new life,” Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 3, p.1193, 2021.
- W. Yang, D. T. K. Ng, and J. Su, “The impact of story-inspired programming on preschool children’s computational thinking: A multi-group experiment,” Thinking skills and creativity, vol. 47, p. 101218, 2023.
- Y. Li, D. Chen, and X. Deng, “The impact of digital educational games on student’s motivation for learning: The mediating effect of learning engagement and the moderating effect of the digital environment,”PloS one, vol. 19, no. 1, p. e0294350, 2024.
- L. A. Widyowati, I. H. Rani, and J. H. Jalih, “Enhancing career readiness through mock interview training and structured feedback,” ADI Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 14–25, 2026.
- G. I. Sari, S. Winasis, I. Pratiwi, U. W. Nuryanto et al., “Strengthening digital literacy in indonesia: Collaboration, innovation, and sustainability education,” Social Sciences & Humanities Open, vol. 10, p. 101100, 2024.
- V. J. Clemente-Su´arez, A. I. Beltr´an-Velasco, S. Herrero-Rold´an, S. Rodriguez-Besteiro, I. Mart´ınez-Guardado, A. Mart´ın-Rodr´ıguez, and J. F. Tornero-Aguilera, “Digital device usage and childhood cognitive development: Exploring effects on cognitive abilities,” Children, vol. 11, no. 11, p. 1299, 2024.
- G. G¨ursoy, “Digital storytelling: Developing 21st century skills in science education,” European Journal of Educational Research, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 97–113, 2021.
- H. Koenitz, Understanding interactive digital narrative: Immersive expressions for a complex time. Taylor & Francis, 2023.
- A. Ardien, N. Ulita, K. A. Al-Farouqi et al., “Emerging educational technologies and their influence on preschool learning outcomes,” Jurnal MENTARI: Manajemen, Pendidikan dan Teknologi Informasi, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 189–201, 2026.
- D. K. MORRISON, “The impact of digital storytelling on the socio-emotional development of early elementary children,” Available at SSRN 4958816, 2024.
- M. S. Alotaibi, “Game-based learning in early childhood education: A systematic review and meta analysis,” Frontiers in psychology, vol. 15, p. 1307881, 2024.
- D. T. K. Ng, W. Luo, H. M. Y. Chan, and S. K. W. Chu, “Using digital story writing as a pedagogy to develop ai literacy among primary students,” Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, vol. 3, p. 100054, 2022.
- S. Liu, B. L. Reynolds, N. Thomas, and A. Soyoof, “The use of digital technologies to develop young children’s language and literacy skills: A systematic review,” Sage Open, vol. 14, no. 1, p. 21582440241230850, 2024.
- S. Mystakidis, M. Fragkaki, and G. Filippousis, “Ready teacher one: Virtual and augmented reality online professional development for k-12 school teachers,” Computers, vol. 10, no. 10, p. 134, 2021.
- N. Behnamnia, A. Kamsin, M. A. B. Ismail, and S. A. Hayati, “A review of using digital game-based learning for preschoolers,” Journal of Computers in Education, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 603–636, 2023.
- M. S. Gunawan, U. Rahardja, A. Ardien, J. Edwards, and D. I. Desrianti, “Enhancing audience engagement through interactive aidriven narrative structures,” Bridging of Emerging AI and Media Broadcasting (BEAM), vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 87–98, 2026.
- R. Damaˇseviˇcius and T. Sidekerskien˙e, “Virtual worlds for learning in metaverse: A narrative review,” Sustainability, vol. 16, no. 5, p. 2032, 2024.
- M. Jang, M. Aavakare, S. Nikou, and S. Kim, “The impact of literacy on intention to use digital technology for learning: A comparative study of korea and finland,” Telecommunications Policy, vol. 45, no. 7, p. 102154, 2021.
- H. Catalano, C. Catalano et al., “Using digital storytelling in early childhood education to promote child centredness,” European Proceedings of Educational Sciences, 2022.
- S. Indah, “Developing creative thinking skills through digital storytelling: Evidence from indonesian early childhood classrooms,” Journal of Education Technology and Inovation, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 49–60, 2025.
- V. Nair and M. M. Yunus, “A systematic review of digital storytelling in improving speaking skills,” Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 17, p. 9829, 2021.
- O. Ferli, N. A. Achsani, T. Andati, and Z. Asikin, “Sustainable business innovation in indonesian firms esg disclosure profitability and greenwashing,” Aptisi Transactions on Technopreneurship (ATT), vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 405–419, 2026.
- Q. Aini, D. Manongga, U. Rahardja, I. Sembiring, and Y.-M. Li, “Understanding behavioral intention to use of air quality monitoring solutions with emphasis on technology readiness,” International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, vol. 41, no. 8, pp. 5079–5099, 2025.
References
A. Sakır, “The use of digital storytelling in early childhood education: A systematic review,” MIER Journal of Educational Studies Trends and Practices, pp. 18–46, 2026.
C. Emi, S. Sardin, J. R. Pramudia, C. Sukmana, and F. Ferianti, “Educational technology in early childhood education: A systematic literature review,” The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational and Social Sciences, vol. 35, pp. 38–45, 2024.
S. A. Khan, G. Poletti, F. N. Khan, and S. Hussain, “Digital storytelling: A pedagogical approach to enhance young learners social-emotional skills,” Review of Education, Administration & Law, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 219–228, 2025.
M. D. Rahiem, “Storytelling in early childhood education: Time to go digital,” International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy, vol. 15, no. 1, p. 4, 2021.
P. Paroli and R. Evans, “Charismatic leadership and participation strengthening innovation culture in hrm planning,” Aptisi Transactions on Technopreneurship (ATT), vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 537–550, 2026.
A. Ata-Akt¨urk and M. Z. Sayan, “Digital storytelling in early childhood education: teachers’ experiences,” Early Years, pp. 1–18, 2026.
C. Y. Quah and K. H. Ng, “A systematic literature review on digital storytelling authoring tool in education: January 2010 to january 2020,” International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, vol. 38, no. 9, pp. 851–867, 2022.
J. R. Maranatha, H. Wulandari, and N. Briliany, “Early empathy: Impact of digital storytelling, traditional storytelling, and gender on early childhood,” JPUD-Jurnal Pendidikan Usia Dini, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 218–231, 2024.
D. Manullang, H. Banjarnahor, and L. Simanjuntak, “Developing digital story telling and educational games to improve early childhood cognitive ability,” in 6th Annual International Seminar on Transformative Education and Educational Leadership (AISTEEL 2021). Atlantis Press, 2021, pp. 710–718.
K. Ramalingam, Y. K. Jiar, and S. Mathiyazhagan, “Speaking skills enhancement through digital storytelling among primary school students in malaysia,” International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 22–35, 2022
B. Novriyanti, M. Mardiana, N. Lutfiani, and K. Moyo, “Blockchain augmented ai architecture for strengthening cybersecurity and operational trust in modern business ecosystems,” ADI Journal on Recent Innovation (AJRI), vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 197–208, 2026.
Y.-T. C. Yang, Y.-C. Chen, and H.-T. Hung, “Digital storytelling as an interdisciplinary project to improve students’ english speaking and creative thinking,” Computer Assisted Language Learning, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 840–862, 2022.
D. Kim and M. Li, “Digital storytelling: Facilitating learning and identity development,” Journal of Computers in Education, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 33–61, 2021.
D. Saripudin, K. Komalasari, and D. N. Anggraini, “Value-based digital storytelling learning media to foster student character.” International Journal of Instruction, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 369–384, 2021.
M. Ubaidillah, R. T. Utami, and H. F. Pranatha, “Kajian sistematis teknik konseling storytelling untuk anak berkebutuhan khusus usia dini: Systematic literature review,” Jurnal Caksana: Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, vol. 7, no. 2, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://garuda.kemdiktisaintek.go.id/documents/detail/5290584
J. S. Fu, S.-H. Yang, and H.-C. Yeh, “Exploring the impacts of digital storytelling on english as a foreign language learners’ speaking competence,” Journal of Research on Technology in Education, vol. 54, no. 5, pp. 679–694, 2022.
H.-L. Chen and Y.-C. Chuang, “The effects of digital storytelling games on high school students’ critical thinking skills,” Journal of computer assisted learning, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 265–274, 2021.
D. Manongga, I. Kovac, and M. Muhtarom, “Cyberpreneurial mindset as a driver of digital startup success in emerging digital economies,” Startupreneur Business Digital (SABDA Journal), vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 67–77, 2026.
E. C¸ etin, “Digital storytelling in teacher education and its effect on the digital literacy of pre-service teachers,” Thinking Skills and Creativity, vol. 39, p. 100760, 2021.
K. Hava, “Exploring the role of digital storytelling in student motivation and satisfaction in efl education,” Computer Assisted Language Learning, vol. 34, no. 7, pp. 958–978, 2021.
F. Tanrıkulu, “Students’ perceptions about the effects of collaborative digital storytelling on writing skills,” Computer Assisted Language Learning, vol. 35, no. 5-6, pp. 1090–1105, 2022.
N. Nicoli, K. Henriksen, M. Komodromos, and D. Tsagalas, “Investigating digital storytelling for the creation of positively engaging digital content,” EuroMed Journal of Business, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 157–173, 2022.
D. Bailey, A. Southam, and J. Costley, “Digital storytelling with chatbots: Mapping l2 participation and perception patterns,” Interactive Technology and Smart Education, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 85–103, 2021.
P. A. Sunarya, U. Rahardja, S. C. Chen, Y.-M. Lic, and M. Hardini, “Deciphering digital social dynamics: A comparative study of logistic regression and random forest in predicting e-commerce customer behavior,” Journal of Applied Data Sciences, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 100–113, 2024.
N. Parsazadeh, P.-Y. Cheng, T.-T. Wu, and Y.-M. Huang, “Integrating computational thinking concept into digital storytelling to improve learners’ motivation and performance,” Journal of Educational Computing Research, vol. 59, no. 3, pp. 470–495, 2021.
M. Kendrick, M. Early, A. Michalovich, and M. Mangat, “Digital storytelling with youth from refugee backgrounds: Possibilities for language and digital literacy learning,” Tesol Quarterly, vol. 56, no. 3, pp.961–984, 2022.
A. Podara, D. Giomelakis, C. Nicolaou, M. Matsiola, and R. Kotsakis, “Digital storytelling in cultural heritage: Audience engagement in the interactive documentary new life,” Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 3, p.1193, 2021.
W. Yang, D. T. K. Ng, and J. Su, “The impact of story-inspired programming on preschool children’s computational thinking: A multi-group experiment,” Thinking skills and creativity, vol. 47, p. 101218, 2023.
Y. Li, D. Chen, and X. Deng, “The impact of digital educational games on student’s motivation for learning: The mediating effect of learning engagement and the moderating effect of the digital environment,”PloS one, vol. 19, no. 1, p. e0294350, 2024.
L. A. Widyowati, I. H. Rani, and J. H. Jalih, “Enhancing career readiness through mock interview training and structured feedback,” ADI Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 14–25, 2026.
G. I. Sari, S. Winasis, I. Pratiwi, U. W. Nuryanto et al., “Strengthening digital literacy in indonesia: Collaboration, innovation, and sustainability education,” Social Sciences & Humanities Open, vol. 10, p. 101100, 2024.
V. J. Clemente-Su´arez, A. I. Beltr´an-Velasco, S. Herrero-Rold´an, S. Rodriguez-Besteiro, I. Mart´ınez-Guardado, A. Mart´ın-Rodr´ıguez, and J. F. Tornero-Aguilera, “Digital device usage and childhood cognitive development: Exploring effects on cognitive abilities,” Children, vol. 11, no. 11, p. 1299, 2024.
G. G¨ursoy, “Digital storytelling: Developing 21st century skills in science education,” European Journal of Educational Research, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 97–113, 2021.
H. Koenitz, Understanding interactive digital narrative: Immersive expressions for a complex time. Taylor & Francis, 2023.
A. Ardien, N. Ulita, K. A. Al-Farouqi et al., “Emerging educational technologies and their influence on preschool learning outcomes,” Jurnal MENTARI: Manajemen, Pendidikan dan Teknologi Informasi, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 189–201, 2026.
D. K. MORRISON, “The impact of digital storytelling on the socio-emotional development of early elementary children,” Available at SSRN 4958816, 2024.
M. S. Alotaibi, “Game-based learning in early childhood education: A systematic review and meta analysis,” Frontiers in psychology, vol. 15, p. 1307881, 2024.
D. T. K. Ng, W. Luo, H. M. Y. Chan, and S. K. W. Chu, “Using digital story writing as a pedagogy to develop ai literacy among primary students,” Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, vol. 3, p. 100054, 2022.
S. Liu, B. L. Reynolds, N. Thomas, and A. Soyoof, “The use of digital technologies to develop young children’s language and literacy skills: A systematic review,” Sage Open, vol. 14, no. 1, p. 21582440241230850, 2024.
S. Mystakidis, M. Fragkaki, and G. Filippousis, “Ready teacher one: Virtual and augmented reality online professional development for k-12 school teachers,” Computers, vol. 10, no. 10, p. 134, 2021.
N. Behnamnia, A. Kamsin, M. A. B. Ismail, and S. A. Hayati, “A review of using digital game-based learning for preschoolers,” Journal of Computers in Education, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 603–636, 2023.
M. S. Gunawan, U. Rahardja, A. Ardien, J. Edwards, and D. I. Desrianti, “Enhancing audience engagement through interactive aidriven narrative structures,” Bridging of Emerging AI and Media Broadcasting (BEAM), vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 87–98, 2026.
R. Damaˇseviˇcius and T. Sidekerskien˙e, “Virtual worlds for learning in metaverse: A narrative review,” Sustainability, vol. 16, no. 5, p. 2032, 2024.
M. Jang, M. Aavakare, S. Nikou, and S. Kim, “The impact of literacy on intention to use digital technology for learning: A comparative study of korea and finland,” Telecommunications Policy, vol. 45, no. 7, p. 102154, 2021.
H. Catalano, C. Catalano et al., “Using digital storytelling in early childhood education to promote child centredness,” European Proceedings of Educational Sciences, 2022.
S. Indah, “Developing creative thinking skills through digital storytelling: Evidence from indonesian early childhood classrooms,” Journal of Education Technology and Inovation, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 49–60, 2025.
V. Nair and M. M. Yunus, “A systematic review of digital storytelling in improving speaking skills,” Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 17, p. 9829, 2021.
O. Ferli, N. A. Achsani, T. Andati, and Z. Asikin, “Sustainable business innovation in indonesian firms esg disclosure profitability and greenwashing,” Aptisi Transactions on Technopreneurship (ATT), vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 405–419, 2026.
Q. Aini, D. Manongga, U. Rahardja, I. Sembiring, and Y.-M. Li, “Understanding behavioral intention to use of air quality monitoring solutions with emphasis on technology readiness,” International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, vol. 41, no. 8, pp. 5079–5099, 2025.