A Music-Based Relay Intervention (Estafet Bait Lagu) Improves Attention in Early Childhood Classrooms: Evidence from Indonesian Kindergartens

Attention span is a critical cognitive skill in early childhood that is essential for both academic and socio-emotional development. However, traditional teaching approaches in Indonesia often struggle to meet diverse classroom needs. This study developed and validated the Estafet Bait Lagu model – an interactive, music-based, play-driven intervention aimed at enhancing attention span in young learners. Employing a sequential mixed?methods design, the study involved 447 children aged four to six years and 25 kindergarten teachers selected through purposive sampling from five schools in Bekasi, Indonesia. Quantitative results from pretest-posttest comparisons (analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA) revealed large effect sizes (*d* = 1.09–1.24) for sustained attention, task persistence, and behavioral control in the intervention group. Qualitative data from teacher interviews and parent focus groups that were analyzed thematically highlighted three key benefits: (1) rhythmic entrainment synchronizing with children’s cognitive rhythms, (2) peer scaffolding, reinforcing Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, and (3) 92% teacher satisfaction with the model’s cultural adaptability and minimal resource needs. The model rooted in Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory and Piaget’s theory of cognitive development principles – demonstrated scalability in resource-constrained settings, with particularly strong outcomes for low?income learners (22% larger gains than peers). These findings offer a practical, culturally responsive solution to attention challenges in early childhood education while underscoring the potential of music-based play to bridge theory and classroom practice.