We gain imagination and freedom at Kampung Dongeng Bali

Abstract

Storytelling is a fundamental pedagogical practice in early childhood education, as it supports the development of creativity, imagination, language skills, and character formation. When grounded in local wisdom, storytelling also functions as a medium for cultural transmission and meaningful learning experiences. This study aims to examine the implementation, unique characteristics, and perceived impact of interactive storytelling practices at Kampung Dongeng Bali as a form of community-based environmental education for young children. This research employed a qualitative approach based on Moleong’s framework, emphasizing naturalistic inquiry and contextual understanding. The study was conducted at Kampung Dongeng Bali as a community learning environment. Data were collected through participant observation, in depth interviews with storytellers and facilitators, and documentation of storytelling activities and children’s creative products. Data analysis followed an interactive model involving data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing, supported by source triangulation to ensure credibility. The findings indicate that interactive storytelling practices at Kampung Dongeng Bali are participatory, flexible, multisensory, and edutainment oriented. Children are positioned as co-creators of stories and actively engaged through role play, sound imitation, drawing, writing, and storytelling reconstruction. The perceived impact of these practices includes increased courage and confidence to express ideas, improved language use and verbal interaction, and enhanced imagination, as observed through children’s participation and creative outputs. In conclusion, interactive storytelling grounded in local culture provides a meaningful strategy for fostering holistic child development within non formal educational settings.