<![CDATA[This study aimed to determine the effect of Pacu Jalur Gymnastics on the gross motor development of children aged 5–6 years. Gross motor development is an important aspect of early childhood development because it supports children's ability to move, maintain balance, coordinate body movements, and participate in physical activities independently. Initial observations at Pertiwi 1 Kindergarten, Governor's Office Padang, indicated that some children aged 5–6 years still experienced difficulties with balance, coordination, agility, strength, flexibility, and endurance. The study used a quantitative quasi-experimental method with a Pretest–posttest control group design. The participants were 26 children selected through purposive sampling, consisting of 13 children in the experimental group (class B3) and 13 children in the control group (class B2). Data were collected through performance-based observation using an instrument covering gross motor indicators. The experimental group participated in Pacu Jalur Gymnastics for three treatment sessions, while the control group participated in routine physical activities. The mean score in the experimental group increased from 27.77 at Pretest to 37.62 at posttest, while the control group increased from 23.77 to 29.77. The independent-samples t-test showed a significance value of 0.002, below 0.05. These findings indicate a significant difference between the groups and suggest that Pacu Jalur Gymnastics can be used as an alternative activity to stimulate gross motor development while introducing local cultural elements in early childhood education. Keywords: Pacu Jalur Gymnastics, gross motor development, early childhood education]]>
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