Preschoolers’ Perception of Monster Toys (on the Example of Huggy Wuggy)

Abstract

The article deals with the problem of perception of monster toys that have become popular recently by modern children and the features of playing with these toys (using the example of the Huggy Wuggy toy). The popularity of monsters in modern media narratives for both adults and children is shown. The analysis of existing studies of monster toys is carried out. The results of an empirical study in which 298 children from 4 to 6 years old participated are presented. As part of the study, a conversation was conducted with children, the techniques of "Drawing a man" and "Drawing a Huggy Wuggy", observation of children's play. The results obtained suggest that for most modern preschoolers, the Huggy Wuggy toy is primarily a "status" item, and is rarely used in children's games. Knowing about the game "Poppy Playtime" and having an idea of its content, children, as a rule, do not use its plot in the game. In general, playing with Huggy Wuggy and other toys in this series is no different from playing with other soft toys. The negative emotional load and aggressive tendencies identified in children associated with the image of Huggy Wuggy are associated with the content of YouTube videos, where negative information about the content of the game and about this character is presented as affectively as possible.