Purpose
The objective of this study is to generate knowledge about the relational, linguistic and action potential of the hand puppet as a tool for communication and learning in preschool children. The researcher has a cultural and educational background from Croatia, and has worked with hand puppets here. The researcher’s approach to the subject is therefore based on wonder that hand puppets are not widely used as tools in the Swedish preschool.
Result
The study shows that the hand puppet is an important tool in communication and learning. The hand puppet’s ability to function as a relational, linguistic and action-oriented tool is important for the child’s linguistic, social and aesthetic development in preschool.
Design
This study is an ethnographic field study, where the researcher has acted as a teacher for the group of the 20 children studied. In this way, the researcher was able to participate in practice over a period of 11 months, and has collected data material consisting of conversations, observations, the children’s drawings and photos.
References
Ahlcrona, M. F. (2009). Handdockans kommunikativa potential som medierande redskap i förskolan. Göteborg: Institutionen för pedagogik och didaktik, Göteborgs Universitet.
Ahlcrona, M. F. (2012) The Puppet’s Communicative Potential as a Mediating Tool in Preschool Education. International Journal of Early Childhood 44(2), 171-184
Financed by
The study is a PhD dissertation from the University of Gothenburg.