INTEGRATING TRADITIONAL VIETNAMESE WATER PUPPETRY INTO STORYTELLING ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Abstract

 Traditional Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique repository of cultural heritage, embodying significant potential to enhance storytelling in a vivid and engaging manner for preschool children. The integration of traditional water puppetry into storytelling for young learners represents a highly promising pedagogical approach, offering numerous educational benefits. It not only facilitates natural and appealing access to traditional culture but also fosters holistic development in cognition, language, emotion, and aesthetics. This paper presents theoretical perspectives on early childhood development, discusses pedagogical orientations, challenges encountered, and proposes effective strategies for integrating traditional water puppetry into storytelling for preschoolers. Water puppetry serves as a powerful and captivating educational tool in nurturing cultural appreciation and creative thinking among the younger generation. The continuation of research and experience-sharing in applying this art form remains crucial for optimizing its pedagogical value.