Using dolls to encourage the communication of children with autistic disorders

Diplomska naloga z naslovom Spodbujanje komunikacije pri otrocih z avtistično motnjo s pomočjo lutk temelji na teoretičnem, praktičnem in empiričnem delu, kjer nas je zanimalo, ali lahko s pomočjo lutk spodbudimo govorno-komunikacijski razvoj otrok, ki imajo avtistično motnjo. V teoretičnem delu predstavimo lutke in lutkovno umetnost v povezavi z delom s predšolskimi otroki, sestavine učinkovite komunikacije (asertivnost, aktivno poslušanje in empatijo) v povezavi z lutkami in značilnosti otrok z avtistično motnjo. V okviru praktičnega dela smo izvedli pet obiskov v enem izmed vrtcev v Podravski regiji, kjer smo v raziskavo vključili pet otrok z avtistično motnjo. Načrtovali in izvedli smo dejavnosti za spodbujanje komunikacijskih spretnosti (tj. navezovanje stika z opazovalcem, navezovanja stika z lutko, navezovanje socialnega stika s pomočjo lutke, asertivnost, empatija v komunikaciji in aktivno poslušanje). Vsak naš obisk sta spremljali lutki v obliki zajca in medveda, ki sta predstavljali povezovalno sredstvo med opazovalci in otroki. Za zbiranje podatkov smo uporabili opazovalno listo, ki smo jo izpolnjevali v času izvedbe praktičnega dela. Z rezultati opazovalne liste smo ugotovili, da smo spodbudili vidike komunikacije, kot so asertivnost in empatija, z uporabo lutke pa smo prav tako razvili odnos z vključenimi otroki in prispevali k njihovi motivaciji. Prav tako smo ugotovili, da vključenim otrokom ni ustrezala frontalna oblika dela, zaradi česar nismo mogli spodbuditi vidikov komunikacije, kot sta navezovanje medsebojnega stika pri otrocih s pomočjo lutk in omogočanje komunikacije s pomočjo lutk. Izsledki našega praktičnega in raziskovalnega dela dodatno dokazujejo uporabno vrednost lutk ne samo v umetniške namene ampak tudi kot motivacijsko sredstvo za spodbujanje vseh vidikov komunikacije, saj lutke predstavljajo stvarnost in otipljivost, ki jo besede pri otrocih z avtistično motnjo potrebujejo.The diploma thesis titled Using dolls to encourage the communication of children with autistic disorders is based on theoretical, practical, and empirical work, through which we tried to determine whether we could use dolls to encourage the development of speech and communication of children with autistic disorders. The theoretical part of the thesis describes dolls and puppet art and how they relate to working with preschool children, the components of efficient communication (assertiveness, active listening, and empathy) in relation to dolls, and the characteristics of children with autistic disorders. For the practical part of the thesis, we made five visits to one of the kindergartens in the Podravska region, where we included five children with autistic disorders in our research. We planned and carried out activities that encourage communication skills (making contact with an observer, making contact with a doll, making social contact using a doll, assertiveness, empathy in communication, and active listening). On all of our visits, we brought along a rabbit doll and a bear doll, which functioned as a means of communication between the observers and the children. During the practical part of the thesis, we used a control list to record data. The results of the control list indicate that we\u27ve encouraged certain aspects of communication, such as assertiveness and empathy, and the dolls helped us develop a relationship with the children that were included in our research and had a positive impact on their motivation. We also found that the children included in our research did not like the frontal work method, which was the reason we could not develop certain aspects of communication, such as making contact between the children through dolls and enabling communication with the use of dolls. The findings of our practical and research work provide further proof that dolls are not only useful for artistic purposes. They can also serve as a motivating factor when trying to encourage any aspect of communication, because they are real and tangible, which is exactly what children with autistic disorders need