The “Guguta” Theater Continues Its Tour with the PikPok.online@guguta Show across the Country. More than 250 Pupils and Kindergarten Children Developed Their Critical Thinking by Watching a Story about a Manipulative Wolf
More than 250 children from three Russian-language school and preschool institutions from the Anenii Noi District learned to stay cautious online together with the actors from the “Guguta” Municipal Puppet Theater as it continues its tour with the Russian-language version of the PikPok.online@guguta show.
On September 17, 2024, the actors visited the “Alunelul” kindergarten in Maximovca Village, Anenii Noi District. The kids accompanied by their teachers met the squirrel named Sita, the mouse named Maus, the wolf named Hait, the boar named Ghindă, the rabbit named Rica, and Helgea, Mr. Filter, the head of social networks, enjoying the story; the children were empathetic, friendly, or sad when some characters acted unreasonably (spreading false information to manipulate the others the way they needed). In the end, the young audience applauded the actors, thanking them for what they had taught them: to appreciate honesty and not to be misled by those making promises online.
To which extent do social media influence our everyday life? Where does our desire to get as many views as possible lead us? How to assess the content we see online critically and which rules should be followed to ensure that what we post won’t make us ashamed? The pupils from the gymnasium from Ciobanovca Village in the same district tried to answer these and other questions while watching the performance.
For 45 minutes, as long as a lesson lasts, the pupils were taught by the actors to comprehend what the Internet is, how online friendship works, and whether they could fully rely on what they see or read on the social platforms.
“Unfortunately, in recent years, we haven’t had many chances to see such performances, but children can be taught not only by means of school subjects, but also by means of art. We are very glad to meet the actors, and such activities are welcome,” Gulnara Teslari, the principal of the gymnasium, told us.
She believes that the message of the show is particularly up to date, because children are becoming more dependent on new technologies: “We included a prohibition to use mobile phones during the lessons in the institution’s internal regulations, after discussions with the parents and using questionnaires for our pupils. But what happens during the breaks is a disaster. Most of the pupils are busy using their mobile phones. They don’t play in the yard anymore the way they used to do. They no longer communicate with each other. Our institution is attended by 145 children from five localities – Picus, Troita Noua, Balmaz, Ochiul Ros, Mirnoe, and Ciobanovca – and, unfortunately, it happens this way: kids don’t take advantage of the time they spend together at school.”
Natalia Dabija, Russian language teacher from the gymnasium, shares this opinion, too. “The show was a real celebration for us. We would like to thank you for all the emotional moments we shared. We have something to discuss with the pupils during the next class meetings. Nowadays, children need to know how to make perfect choices for themselves. The characters of the play demonstrated that all of us have to be more careful about who we talk to, who we choose to be friends with, who we show the photos, etc. The show makes us analyze the characters’ behavior and learn some useful lessons for life,” the teacher emphasizes.
The pupils were impressed by the acting and the plot of the play; once again, they thought about the advantages and the risks of the online environment.
“We spend quite a lot of time online. On the one hand, it is rather dangerous, but on the other hand, this is where we get a lot of information we need. I try to figure out what is good and what is bad for me,” pupil Irina Margine says.
“This performance shows us how fake news is generated to manipulate the others. In the online environment, there are many fraudsters on social platforms today. We, the kids, can easily be misguided by them, and this is why we need to learn how to protect ourselves,” her classmate Veaceslav Volonet mentions.
“I really like the performance because it is about us and for us. I have accounts on TikTok and Instagram, but I don’t really like spending a lot of time on these networks. As a rule, I don’t feel safe enough online,” another pupil, Catalina Babin, remarks.
“I would like to recommend the other friends and colleagues of mine to watch this show because it will help them reconsider their priorities regarding friendship. I prefer making friends in real life because I know who they actually are. I also have more useful hobbies and activities than wasting my spare time online. I prefer books to the networks,” Pavel Cociug, another pupil, says.
On the same day, the actors of the “Guguta” Municipal Puppet Theater also visited Alexandr Puskin Theoretical Lyceum in Anenii Noi Town.
In her greeting speech, Gabriela Lungu, director of the Theater, warned the pupils to be very careful about the information they consume in online and what they post on their own profiles. “You’ve got many friends on social networks. But who are they, actually? You’ll never know who I am judging by what you see on the screen. True friends are those who stay by your side, those you can take a walk with, communicate with, or ask for help. Today’s story urges you to stay vigilant, to realize how the information environment functions, and to analyze what you see or hear critically,” Gabriela Lungu declared.
While watching the show, the kids had fun, thought about the characters’ actions, realizing that when they are on social networks they have to show their good manners and to apologize to their friends if they make a mistake.
“I like the moment when the wolf admits that what he did was wrong. It’s the most educational moment. It’s never too late to reconsider your mistakes and to apologize for what you’ve done,” Alexandra Rotaru, a 3rd grade pupil, told us.
“The show we have watched is really up-to-date. Some netizens are eager to do anything to get as many likes or friends as possible. Still, no matter how many friends they have, sometimes they end up feeling lonely, and this is quite a depressive outcome. We will keep discussing the topic of the show with our pupils to make them aware of certain dangers. Kids need support and guidance from their parents, teachers, and grown-ups in general. We have to explain things to them in a simple, patient manner, in an understandable way, and they will be more protected,” Natalia Oleinic, primary school teacher, concluded.
PikPok.online@guguta is an adaptation of the educational fairytale titled “A Click of Fangs or the Manipulative Wolf” written by media researcher Solvita Denisa Liepniece from Latvia.
The show lasts for 45 minutes and is included in the repertoire of the “Guguta” Theater both in Russian and Romanian. In partnership with the Independent Journalism Center, the “Guguta” Theater launched the Romanian version of the PikPok.online@guguță show in November 2022, and the Russian one in February 2023.
The show an educational and entertaining story intended for kindergarten children and primary school pupils. The play helps the little ones comprehend how the online environment functions and encourages them to analyze what they see or hear, especially on social media.
The PikPok.online@guguta show tour is organized within the framework of the project “Media Education and Literacy and Optimisation of Newsrooms” (MELON). This project is financially supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Moldova.
