There are many methods that can contribute to the formation of quality social relationships, among which creative puppet and drama education stands out. This method particularly convinced me due to its unique ability to connect children. The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate how a puppet, as a central character in group activities, can contribute to shaping social relationships among children and how collaborative storytelling can enhance a sense of safety and belonging within the group. The research is based on empirical work in a preschool group as well as theoretical insights into the influence of puppets on the development of social skills and communication.
Puppet and drama education not only encourages creativity but also allows children to immerse themselves in various characters and situations through play. This process has awakened empathy and understanding in children, which are crucial for building interpersonal relationships.
In the theoretical part, I explored the puppet and its classification based on different types, focusing on its pedagogical significance. I explain how we can achieve various goals in the educational process with the puppet and which aspects of a child's development the puppet particularly supports. I am interested in how I can integrate the puppet into daily activities, whether children trust the puppet differently than they do the educators, and whether the puppet influenced collaboration among children during the project. Additionally, I want to investigate whether the puppet can impact changes in social relationships among children.
In the practical part, I studied the use of the puppet in daily work in the kindergarten. In a group of children aged three to six years, I will introduce a puppet as the group's beloved member.
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