Folk Doll as Symbolism of the Image of Motherhood in Preschoolers

Abstract

Introduction. Motherhood is a cultural, socio-psychological and physiological phenomenon. Motherhood contributes to changing the social and psychological status of a woman, actualizes and optimizes the acquisition of important personal qualities that fall under the characteristics of the archetype of the mother or its reverse or shadow side – the archetype of the stepmother. The gradual disintegration of the institution of the family and socially “legalized” intimate relationships between young people of reproductive age, along with the postponement of the age of birth of a child in a couple, leaves the position of an adult not actualized, leaves young people in an infantile position for an indefinite period. The traditional rites of age-related initiation into the maternal position have now turned out to be unclaimed. In our culture there is a shortage of social and cultural institutions, traditions, rituals of conversion to motherhood. Methods. The research materials were psychological, philosophical, sociological, socio-cultural works that form the methodological basis of motherhood and the cultural and historical roots of the folk doll as a cultural and historical symbolism of the image of motherhood in preschoolers, the archetypal symbolism of motherhood, folk toys in culture from the standpoint of Junginian analytical psychology. Results. Archetypal female images, including the image of motherhood, are widely represented in the form of conscious and unconscious manifestations, spontaneous reproduction of traditions in the symbolism of folk dolls. The symbolism of folk dolls immerses a private immersion in the element of the “original” and gives through it a holistic image of motherhood. A folk toy is one of the forms of folk culture. It is the folk toy that symbolically conveys to the child the culture, wisdom and spirituality of its folk, being the information carrier of the folk tradition. Discussion and Conclusion. A traditional folk doll translates the traditional image of motherhood. The folk rag doll allows to reduce the psychological tension between the child and the surrounding reality, the soft and warm to the touch doll’s body brings up a warm and trusting attitude to the outside world. The internal content of the folk doll is identical in functional characteristics with the maternal role, forms the ideas of preschoolers about the mother, a positive attitude towards her, contributes to the development of the image of motherhood in preschoolers.