Estrategias teatrales en el desarrollo de gesto y habla del discurso infantil

Abstract

Theatrical strategies are techniques derived from theater that stimulate cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional skills in preschool education. This research aimed to analyze theatrical strategies in the development of gesture and speech in children's discourse. The study was conducted with a mixed approach, of a basic type, exploratory and descriptive scope, and concurrent design, which allowed for the collection and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data on theatrical strategies and the development of gesture and speech without the need to manipulate variables and by observing the results in a natural context. Interviews were conducted with teachers and experts, as well as an observation sheet with a rating scale for 29 children from the "Madre Gertrudis" Educational Unit. Data collection was carried out using an observation sheet with a rating scale, achieving a reliability level of 0.973 according to Cronbach's Alpha. The results showed that the majority of the children are at the process or initial level in aspects such as the use of gestures, intonation, vocabulary, organization of discourse, and body language. It is concluded that theatrical strategies such as role-playing, dramatization, improvisation, and the use of puppets significantly favor the development of gesture and speech in children. Thus, incorporating them into the planning to strengthen oral and non-verbal communication from the early school years; also paving the way for new research on their comprehensive impact on child development.