Teachers Opinions of the Art Expression of Preschool Children with a Diagnosis from Autism

Tema ovog diplomskog rada je „Stavovi odgojitelja o likovnom izražavanju predškolske djece s dijagnozom iz spektra autizma“. Rad se sastoji od dva dijela. Teorijskim dijelom objašnjen je razvoj autizma. Današnja definicija poremećaja iz spektra autizma prema DSM-V je ta da je PSA neurorazvojni poremećaj koji se javlja u ranom razvojnom razdoblju te zahvaća komunikacijski, motorički, kognitivni i ponašajni sustav djeteta. Traje cijeli život te za njega ne postoji lijek, ali postoje učinkovite terapije koje mogu poboljšati navedene sustave. Terapijske metode koje djeluju su znanstveno potvrđene i u daljnjem tekstu objašnjene. Iako likovna terapija nije znanstveno utemeljena, provodi se jer se smatra da likovnost pozitivno utječe na čovjekovo psihičko i fizičko zdravlje. Cilj ovog rada je povezati autizam i likovnost. Stoga je u radu teorijski objašnjena likovnost, odnosno njezina povijest kao i razvoj dječjeg likovnog stvaralaštva. Iako su sva djeca različita, ne postoji dijete koje nije likovno nadareno. Pa tako i djeca s PSA-om. Drugi dio rada obuhvaća istraživanje koje se odnosi na stavove odgojitelja o likovnom izražavanju djece s PSA-om. Istraživanje je provedeno na području Zagrebačke županije u kojem je sudjelovalo 9 odgojiteljica. U provedbi istraživanja korišten je intervju od osam pitanja. S obzirom na uvodna pitanja (godine radnog staža i u kojoj odgojnoj skupini su uočile dijete s PSA-om) i na pitanja u intervju, postavljene su sljedeće hipoteze: 1) odgojitelji poznavajući specifične interese djece s PSA-om, senzoričku osjetljivost i individualne razvojne karakteristike osmišljavaju, prilagođavaju i uvažavaju likovne aktivnosti djece s PSA-om, 2) postoji razlika između različitih i unutar istih odgojnih skupina u kojima je autistčno dijete s obzirom na usmjerenost autističnog djeteta prema likovnim aktivnostima i 3) kreativnost odgojiteljica u skladu s njihovim godinama radnog staža je na visokom nivou s obzirom na rad s djecom s PSA-om u području likovnog izražavanja. Temeljem rezultata istraživanja potvrđena je hipoteza pod brojem 2), dok hipoteze pod brojevima 1) i 3) nisu potvrđene. U konačnici, najvažnije je djeci s PSA-om pristupiti kreativno, s puno strpljenja i motivacije kako bi mogli živjeti kao sva druga djeca urednog razvoja.The topic of this thesis is "Teachers opinions on the art expression of preschool children with a diagnosis from autism“. The paper consists of two parts. The theoretical part explains the development of autism. Today's definition of autism spectrum disorders according to DSM-V is that PSA is a neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs in the early developmental period and affects the communication, motor, cognitive and behavioral systems of the child. It lasts a lifetime and there is no cure for it, but there are effective therapies that can improve these systems. The therapeutic methods that work are scientifically validated and explained below. Although art therapy is not scientifically based, it is carried out because art is considered to have a positive effect on a person's mental and physical health. The aim of this paper is to connect autism and fine arts. Therefore, the paper theoretically explains art, ie its history as well as the development of children's art. Although all children are different, there is no child who is not artistically gifted. So do children with PSA. The second part of the paper included research related to the opinions of educators about the artistic expression of children with PSA. The research was proven in the Zagreb County in which 9 educators participated. An eight-question interview was used in conducting the research. With regard to the introductory questions (years of work experience and in which the educational group they noticed a child with PSA) and the questions in the interview, the following hypotheses were set: 1) educators who know the specific interests of children with PSA, sensory sensitivity and individual developmental characteristics design, adapt and respect the artistic activities of children with PSA, 2) there is a difference between different and within the same educational groups in which the autistic child is given the orientation of the autistic child towards art activities and 3) creativity of educators according to their years of work the internship is at a high level considering working with children with PSA in the field of artistic expression. Based on the results of the research, hypothesis under number 2) was confirmed, while hypothesis under numbers 1) and 3) were not confirmed. Ultimately, the most important thing is to approach children with PSA creatively, with a lot of patience and motivation so that they can live like all other children of regular development