The master thesis, Arts Therapy Concept in Preschool Education, includes the results of the research questions about the importance of the profession of expressive arts therapy in the preschool period. It concludes their role in a holistic pedagogical approach and the use of art as a tool to improve inclusion, cognitive abilities and social-emotional development of the child. Art is found to have a deep connection with various human functions, including cognitive, emotional and social aspects.
The Curriculum for Kindergartens, Slovenia, from 1999, defines arts as one of the areas of preschool education that enables the child to develop creative potential, explores the world, develop language and communicate through art. The national document defines various areas of art, such as music, dance, visual arts and others. It emphasizes that the approaches of the art therapist and the educator intertwine and complement each other.
Helping with art proves to be an important element in promoting the social-emotional development of a child, as it enables the expression of emotions, ideas and thoughts in a unique and personal way. Art activities promote communication, empathy, self-confidence, concentration and the development of other social-emotional competencies. Master of Art Therapy have a key role in fostering the child's holistic development. With their knowledge and expertise, they can supplement the work of educators, who sometimes focus primarily on other areas of development. By collaborating between art therapists and educators, we can improve the child's experience in the educational environment and relieve educators of the challenges they face in their work.
The aim of the master's thesis was to investigate the theoretical starting points and guidelines for introducing art therapy in kindergartens, and to design methods and principles to improve the social-emotional development of the child and the role of art therapists, as additional experts in the implementation of support activities with art is also emphasized.
The research includes a review of domestic and foreign professional literature and studies, with the use of the descriptive research method. As a result of the theoretical review, a manual was created that enables art therapists to prepare for their therapeutic work in kindergarten, systematic design of activities, fundamental theoretical and practical starting points. The result of the master thesis will serve as a practical guideline, for the use of the professionals of arts therapy in kindergartens, which will contribute to a better overall development of the child and the improvement of their social-emotional competences.
The conclusion of the master's thesis emphasizes the importance of art as a tool for the holistic development of a child in kindergarten and points out the possibilities for a wider integration of expressive art therapy into educational processes and improving the child's social-emotional development, with the awareness that it is necessary to carry out practical research in this area, which will support theory.
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