One of the six aspects of early childhood development is cognitive ability, which
relates to thinking and observing skills, thereby fostering knowledge about the
surrounding environment. The use of playdough media as a learning medium is
expected to generate new knowledge for early childhood. This research aims to
enhance cognitive abilities through playdough media in 3-4-year-old children at
Miftakhul Ulum Integrated Early Childhood Education Center in Karangklesem
Village, Pekuncen District, during the academic year 2023/2024. This study is a
Classroom Action Research consisting of two cycles, each cycle comprising two
sessions. The subjects in this research are the children of the Star Class, consisting
of 5 female and 7 male children. The data collection methods in this research are
observation, interviews, and documentation. The data analysis used in this research
is qualitative descriptive analysis. The results of the analysis in this research
indicate a significant improvement in children's cognitive development. At the
initial stage of the study, out of 12 children, 4 children (33%) were underdeveloped
(UD), 3 children (25%) were beginning to develop (BD), and 5 children (42%) were
developing as expected (DAE). In cycle I, out of 12 children, there were 4 children
(33%) who were beginning to develop (BD), 2 children (17%) were developing as
expected (DAE), and 6 children (50%) were developing very well (DVW). In cycle
II, out of 12 children, there were 2 children (17%) developing as expected (DAE)
and 10 children (83%) developing very well (DVW). In other words, there was an
optimal improvement in children's abilities from the initial condition to cycle I by
50% and to cycle II by 83%.