CONTRIBUTION OF THE MASCOT BOBTRAN TO CHILDREN'S LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT IN ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION

Abstract

This article examines the contribution of the mascot BOBTRAN to children’s learning and engagement in traffic education activities developed by the “BPTran in Schools” project in Curitiba and its metropolitan region. The objective is to understand how the mascot’s presence influences children’s interest, facilitates content assimilation, and enhances participation during educational activities. The study adopted a qualitative approach, based on the responses of 18 teachers who voluntarily participated in the research. Data were collected through three open-ended questions and analyzed by in-depth reading and thematic categorization, allowing the identification of recurring perceptions regarding the mascot’s role as a pedagogical mediator. The results indicate that BOBTRAN significantly increases children’s involvement by creating a more welcoming, motivating, and emotionally safe environment. Teachers reported that the mascot sparks curiosity, reduces anxiety, and brings the content closer to the children’s world, promoting the understanding of road safety concepts. It was also observed that the mascot contributes to content retention by transforming abstract rules into concrete and playful situations, stimulating learning through identification and modeling. The study concludes that the mascot is a strategic resource for enhancing traffic education practices, increasing engagement, and strengthening the development of safe behaviors from early childhood.