The function of a stage puppet in early and preschool education

Lutkarstvo je scenska umjetnost u kojoj je lutka posrednik između glumca i publike. Lutka ima veliku ulogu u djetetovom životu, u emocionalnom, socijalnom i spoznajnom razvoju. Osnovni medij u lutkarstvu je lutka, ona je temeljno izražajno sredstvo te umjetnosti. Lutka je svima dostupna, lako se izradi od raznih otpadnih materijala, a mogu se koristiti i vlastiti dijelovi tijela za animaciju. Vrste lutaka su ginjol, zijevalica, lutke sjene, javajke, marionete. Lutke se mogu podijeliti prema načinu pokretanja, pa su to ručne lutke, lutke na štapu i lutke na koncima, možemo ih podijeliti i prema poziciji s koje se animiraju, a to mogu biti lutke koje se animiraju odozgo i lutke koje se animiraju odozdo. Lutke se ne koriste samo za lutkarske predstave, već je korištenje lutke u svakodnevnom životu djece važno. Lutka je poticajna za stvaralaštvo i kreativnost. Uz maštu, djeca i odrasli mogu bilo koji predmet ili dio tijela „oživjeti“. Lutka kao posrednik između odgojitelja i djeteta pomaže odgojitelju da dijete opusti, da pridobije njegovu pažnju, da se dijete otvori, komunicira o problemima koje ima, da se osjeća ugodno, a djetetu lutka pomaže u rješavanju konflikata, povećava samopouzdanje, upotpunjuje igru. Lutka ima veliku vrijednost u djetetovom životu, i može postati sredstvo za psihološko proučavanje djece.Puppetry is a performing art in which the puppet is the mediator between the actor and the audience. The puppet plays a big role in the child's life, as well as in emotional, social and cognitive development. The primary media in puppetry is the puppet, which is the fundamental, expressive medium of that art. The puppet is available to everyone, it is easily made from various waste materials, moreover your own body parts can be used for animation. Types of puppets are ginjol, zijevalica, shadow puppets, javajke, marionette. Puppets can be divided according to the mode of movement, therefore we have hand puppets, puppets on a stick and puppets on strings. We can also divide them according to the position from which they are animated, and these can be puppets that are animated from above and puppets that are animated from below. Puppets are not only used for puppet shows, but their usage is also important in everyday life of children. The puppet encourages creativity and originality. Children and adults can revive any object or a body part by using their imagination. The puppet as the mediator between the educator and the child helps the educator to relax the child, to gain his attention, it helps child to open up to educator, to communicate about problems he/she has, to make him/her feel comfortable. The puppet helps the child to resolve conflicts, increases self-confidence, complements the game. The puppet has a great value in a child's life and can become a mediator for psychological study of children