The social situation of a preschool child’s development

• Main Author: S. A. Mykhalska
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kamianets-Podilskyi National Ivan Ohiienko University, National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, G.S.Kostiuk Institute of Psychology 2017-01-01
• Series: Проблеми сучасної психології
• Subjects: child; social development; personality; intercourse; parents; preschool age; family; game; peers
• Online Access: http://journals.uran.ua/index.php/2227-6246/article/view/156876/156211

The scientific and theoretical analysis of the development of the problem on the social development of a child of preschool age is presented in the article. It is determined that the social development of a personality is an interconnected process of socialization and individualization of a preschool child. It is proved that preschool age is characterized by a new social situation of development, when the sphere of interaction and the circle of a child’s communication are considerably expanding; the communication with adults is much more complicated, and it acquires new forms and content. It is noted that a preschooler’s relationship with an adult acquires cognitive and imitative content, that is in games a child copies the activities of an adult and asks him a large number of questions. It is proved that the game is social in its origin and content, it is a historical entity associated with the development of society, its culture; it represents activities, where children play the role of adults, performing their lives, work and relationships between them through the game, preschoolers meet their needs in communication with adults, in social life with them. It is stated that the relationship between preschoolers is particularly attractive and significantand a steady interest in interacting with other children arises in connection with the complication of the game and the expansion of the sphere of preschool child’s socialization. Communicating with peers, a child builds relationships not on the basis of conquest, like with adults, but from the point of view of equality. It is noted that interaction between preschoolers leads to a number of psychological consequences: the formation of social interaction skills, the improvement of the ability to support conversation and information sharing, the development of communicative flexibility through the dominance during the game, self-esteem formation by means of comparison with other children, development of empathy, ability to care. Consequently, the social situation of a preschool child’s development is being complicated and differentiated, and relations with adults and peers are being changed, which continue to remain the center of their life.