To discuss pressing issues regarding the updating of the federal educational program for preschool education, Elena Pisareva—Senator of the Russian Federation and Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education, and Culture—invited members of the Expert Council’s working group. These included representatives from the Ministry of Education, Moscow Pedagogical State University (MPSU), the Institute for Child Development, Health, and Adaptation, the V.S. Lednev Institute of Content and Teaching Methods, the Association for the Development of Preschool Education Quality, the N.F. Bunakov Institute for Educational Development, the National Institute of Education Quality, Academic Gymnasium No. 56 (named after M.B. Pildes), the Association of School Libraries, and the Prosveshcheniye publishing house.
The Senator thanked the experts for their active participation in the Expert Council’s work and their responsible, professional approach to the tasks at hand. She noted the particular importance—in today’s context—of fostering civic consciousness, patriotism, and love for the Motherland in children from a very early age, as well as preserving spiritual, moral, and family values, through an approach that is informal, sincere, and honest.
The federal experts unanimously acknowledged the exceptional importance of modern books in the upbringing process. They exchanged views on defining the "social mandate" for children's authors, offered suggestions regarding content for new methodological guides for preschool educators, and focused on parental education—including the goal of reviving the practice of mothers reading to their children as a form of spiritual protection for the little ones. A discussion took place regarding the compilation of recommended reading lists for children; these lists are currently being actively updated and are open to well-reasoned proposals from authors, particularly concerning the educational value of the works they create.
The creation of literature for visually impaired children was also highlighted as a distinct topic.
In response to a request for experts to support the Ministry of Education in the extensive and multifaceted task of developing a teaching and learning toolkit for educators, specific proposals were put forward, and examples of successful past projects were cited as potential models.
Elena Pristupa, Director of the Institute of Child Development, spoke about the "Fairy Tales" library resource collection, which introduces preschoolers to the history and culture of multi-ethnic Russia. Tatyana Zhukova, President of the School Library Association, discussed the all-Russian project "Reading Mom — Reading School — Reading Country." Elfiya Dorofeeva—General Director of the "MOZAIKA-SINTEZ" Publishing House and Director of Innovation at the International Pedagogical Academy of Preschool Education (IPAPE) —presented reading guides for children of various ages and a unique publishing project for parents known as "School of Seven Dwarfs" (*Shkola Semi Gnomov*).
Tatyana Solovyeva, Director of the Institute of Special Education, shared details about a developmental program designed for children with special needs—an initiative that was the result of extensive, meticulous, thoughtful, and highly professional work by a dedicated team of specialists.
Natalia Kostyuk, Deputy Director of the Department of State General Education Policy and Preschool Education Development at the Ministry of Education, thanked the experts for their constructive approach to the issues at hand and for the ideas they shared during the meeting. She also reported on the ongoing process of refining the federal educational program; having been in effect for some time, the program now requires revision—particularly regarding provisions related to the upbringing and development of preschool-age children. Collaboration with the expert community is continuing.
In her closing remarks, Elena Pisareva proposed discussing several issues raised during the meeting in greater detail at the "ORIENTIRY DETSTVA 6.0" (Childhood Landmarks 6.0) All-Russian Preschool Education Forum. Scheduled for August 8–9, the event will bring together over 7,000 professionals from all 89 Russian regions, offering a unique opportunity to gather a wide range of perspectives.
Anna Elanskaya, Lead Columnist for *Modern Preschool Education* magazine
Photo courtesy of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education, and Culture