THE USE OF CREATIVE DRAMA METHODS WITHIN KINDERGARTENS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE TEACHING STAFF

Creative drama has great potential and its implementation in education from pre-school education requires research, as evidenced by the number of scientific studies that have been registered in international research databases over the last ten years. The aim of the research was to examine the use of creative drama methods within kindergartens in Slovakia from the perspective of the kindergarten teaching staff (teachers and teaching assistants). A quantitative research design was used. 407 kindergarten teaching staff responded to the items of the questionnaire of the authors' construction. From the results of the research, it is possible to state that there is an average level of knowledge of creative drama among kindergarten teaching staff (based on their self-reflection). Furthermore, based on the self-reflection of the teaching staff, it can be stated that there are below-average opportunities for their education in the area of creative drama and a below-average level of using creative drama methods in kindergartens. Nevertheless, the status of the use of creative drama methods has improved over the last 10 years. The results of the research are a stimulus for further research - analysis of the responses of the teaching staff in terms of their age and pedagogical practice in order to estimate the development of the current state of using creative drama in kindergartens. Keywords: creative drama, creative drama methods, kindergarten teacher, teaching assistant, preschool education