Stage puppet as a helping instrument in the development of social competencies of preschool children

Tema ovog završnoga rada odabrana je u želji za pobuđivanjem interesa i potrebe za upoznavanjem scenske lutke kao pozitivnog utjecaja na socijalni razvoj djece predškolske dobi. Lutka u dječjem svijetu, svijetu mašte koji ne poznaje granice, zamjenjuje živa bića. Dijete se od rane dobi veže za svoje predmete, igračke kojima ono stvara svoj svijet. Korištenjem scenske lutke u radu odgajatelji mogu postići bolju interakciju s djecom. Vrlo je važno pratiti proces igre sa scenskom lutkom jer se upravo tako ponekad može uočiti problem koji sputava dijete u njegovom emocionalnom i psihološkom razvoju. Odgajatelji upoznati s određenim znanjima iz lutkarstva i scenske kulture mogu putem lutke lakše pristupiti djeci. Na početku rada, opisuje se lutkarstvo i kakav utjecaj ono ima u Hrvatskoj, ali i u svijetu. Također, opisane su i vrste lutaka, podijeljene u dvije glavne skupine, kao i uloga odgajatelja u odgojno – obrazovnom radu s lutkom. Primarni cilj rada jest prikazati scensku lutku, povijest scenske lutke, njezino nastajanje, vrste, način na koji se može koristiti te njezina primjena u radu s djecom. Provedenim istraživanjem nastoji se prikazati u kolikoj mjeri i na koji način odgajatelji koriste scensku lutku u svom radu te važnost scenske lutke kao pomoćnog sredstva u odgoju i obrazovanju. Ispitane odgajateljice svojim su odgovorima prikazale široki spektar utjecaja scenske lutke općenito, a posebno u razvoju socijalnih kompetencija djece predškolske dobi.The topic of this thesis was selected with the goal of entertaining the idea and the need for introducing a puppet as a positive influence on the social development of children of the pre-school age. In children’s world of fantasy, which knows no limitations, the puppet replaces living beings. From an early age, a child connects to its belongings and toys, using them to create its own world. By using a puppet in their work, educators can achieve better quality interactions with children. That way, a child’s imagination is developing, and the intellectual and emotional levels are being founded. Educators acquainted with a certain knowledge of puppetry and performing arts can approach children more effortlessly with the use of a puppet. In the beginning of the thesis, it is described what puppetry is and what kind of effects it has, both in Croatia and the rest of the world. Additionally, the types of puppets are described and split into two main categories, as well as the role of educators in educational work with a puppet. The primary goal of this thesis is to present the puppet and its history, how it originated, types of puppets, and the way it can be used when working with children. The conducted research seeks to show the extent to which educators use a puppet in their work and in which way, as well as the importance of a puppet as an auxiliary instrument in education. The educators who participated in the study displayed a wide array of influences of a puppet, especially in the development of social competence in pre-school age children