These and many other issues were discussed at the section "Modern Research of Preschool Childhood". The participants of the meeting presented the results of the large-scale all-Russian project «Rastem vmeste» ("Growing Together").
Alexander Veraksa, Academician of the Russian Academy of Education, Head of the Department of Educational Psychology at Moscow State University, drew attention to the impact of aggressive digitalization on children's development. Modern preschoolers spend too much time in front of screens, which negatively affects their motor development and physical activity. The scientist emphasized that play and project activities remain key tools for a child's cognitive and personal growth.
Margarita Gavrilova, PhD in Psychology, research associate at the Department of Educational Psychology and Pedagogy at the Faculty of Psychology at Moscow State University, spoke about factors that complicate children's adaptation when moving fr om kindergarten to school. Gender, language, motor development, and even time spent in front of screens can both help and hinder this process. According to the researcher, the first months at school are critically important for the formation of a child's educational base.
Natalia Rudnova, PhD in Psychology, Junior Researcher at the Laboratory of Childhood Psychology and Digital Socialization at the Federal Scientific Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research, shared the results of a study on stress in preschoolers. She noted that the mother's emotional state plays a key role in overcoming stress in the child. Practical advice for parents includes breathing exercises, physical contact, and finding social support.
Darya Bukhalenkova, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor of the Department of Educational Psychology and Pedagogy of the Faculty of Psychology at Moscow State University, spoke about the importance of developing children's imagination. Preschoolers with a developed imagination cope better with educational tasks, social adaptation and creative challenges. To support imagination, experts recommend using strategic games, both digital and board, and creating conditions for free creativity.
Ekaterina Oshchepkova, PhD in Philology, Leading Researcher at the Federal Scientific Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research? presented a new drawing test for assessing the language development of children aged 4–8. This tool allows for a quick and objective determination of the child’s passive vocabulary level, which is especially important for the timely correction of speech disorders.
Vera Sukhikh, a research fellow at the Department of Educational Psychology and Pedagogy at the Faculty of Psychology at Moscow State University, dispelled the myth that "smart" toys in themselves are capable of developing a child. According to her, the key role is played by the involvement of an adult who helps to understand the game and direct it in an educational direction.
Anastasia Yakushina, a research associate at the Laboratory of Convergent Studies of Cognitive Processes at the Federal Scientific Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research, said that chess has a positive effect on children's cognitive development, especially on visual-spatial memory. However, research in this area is ongoing, and scientists are not yet ready to unequivocally recommend chess as a universal tool for all children.
The section showed that modern research on preschool childhood is not just theoretical research, but practical tools for teachers and parents. In a rapidly changing world, wh ere digitalization and new challenges affect children's development, science is becoming an important reference point for creating effective educational strategies.
The results of the Growing Together Project and other studies are regularly published on the project’s Telegram channel so that teachers and parents can stay up to date with the latest scientific discoveries and apply them in everyday practice.