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The article presents an attempt to identify the main characteristics of children’s information environment and show their influence on the psychology of modern children. In the analysis of modern market of toys, books and movies, the author states some of the paradoxes of modern socio-cultural situation. One of them is the fact that the majority of information products for children are not designed for the age peculiarities of its destination. Other paradox is that increased demands on cognitive development of children combined with overly caring attitude to their physical security and autonomy. The desire to make the life of their children easier, to protect them from any risk, effort and hardship is the dominant trend of modern education. As a result, children are setting on consumption, which is amplified by the expansion of modern media and video production for children. In the second part of the article discusses the problems of modern children due to the characteristics of children’s subculture. Among them, the underdevelopment of the motive sphere, disorders of speech development, lack of imagination, communication difficulties, lack of autonomy and self-organization. The author concludes that modern children’s subculture inhibits the development of personality of the child and leads to deficiency of motivation.

The relevance of the article’s topic. In modern education, more and more attention is paid to meta-subject results, such as well-being, socio-emotional development, agency (independence and initiative), etc. The article discusses the growing importance of one of these meta-subject results of preschool education - children’s independence, provides examples of changes in international discourse, recognition of the importance of well-being, social-emotional skills, autonomy and agency (independence and initiative). In addition, modern studies of environmental factors (family and educational conditions) of the formation of independence are described. The problem of the uncertainty of the terms used and the need for their further definition is posed.

The aim of the study was to identify and describe the practices of developing independence in preschool educational institutions in Moscow and Krasnoyarsk and to describe the image of independence that is realized in these practices.

Description of the research progress. As part of the work, a qualitative study and 14 thematic interviews with leaders and teachers of preschool educational organizations in two million-plus cities of the Russian Federation were conducted. To develop the interview guide, materials provided by teachers working in line with Montessori ideas were used. The aim of the study was to identify the attitude of teachers to new guidelines for the development of preschool education, as well as their ideas about the possibility of developing the independence of pupils and success in this activity.

The results of the study. The analysis of teachers’ answers showed that independence should be considered in three areas – everyday life, play and productive activity. Manifestations of independence may be different. Independence is associated with the child’s interest in the activities he performs, much attention is paid to the child’s ability to complete t the job he started, which in the broader context of independence seems controversial.

The most difficult for teachers was the description of the practices of developing independence adopted in their kindergarten: teachers either found it difficult to describe them clearly, or, on the contrary, called all children’s activities. It was practically impossible to identify signs of success of pedagogical efforts to develop independence.

Conclusion. The data obtained indicate a general positive attitude to the need for the development of children’s independence, however, they also indicate difficulties in implementing this task. Thus, it was found that teachers see an obstacle in the development of independence in the insecurity of providing preschool children with freedom of action. In addition, it can be argued that the construct “independence” does not have a clear definition, and teachers’ ideas reflect this uncertainty. We have also revealed the absence of recognized, accepted methods of developing independence, teachers find it difficult to evaluate their work, to make judgments about the effectiveness of one or another activity aimed at increasing the level of independence.

This paper describes the contents and working techniques of the author’s Amares Naturkindergarten in Germany. The originality of this kindergarten lies in the absence of an educational program, in the participation of children in various serious activities and in the specific organization of the educational environment.

The characteristics of the body space environment have been presented, where, unlike the national tradition, the maintenance of order is not considered as a special value since the independent activity of children is not quiet compatible with the order and invariance of the environment. The priority of a safety for children, generally accepted for the kindergartens, a barrier against possible risks, have been replaced by a toughening up, a transfer to the child’s own concern about their safety.

The examples of a child activities, including the creation of feasible products (a museum, a garden, a piece of chalk, etc.), experimentation, household economic activities, and of course play have been described. The education and child-rearing have been included in various types of a child activities. There are no traditional studies in this kindergarten. The work of teachers has been focused not at the transfer of knowledge but at fostering the independence and creative orientation of a child. With the support of teachers, preschoolers practically do everything themselves, which contributes to the development of the most important personal qualities. The role of parents is particularly emphasized as they observe the children’s enthusiasm, actively help the kindergarten staff and defend their right to such a teaching practice which is ingenious for Germany.

In conclusion, the authors note that the methods of education used in Amares Naturkindergarten fully comply with the requirements of the Russian Federal State Standard for Early Childhood Education as they have been focused on the development of a child personality, the education of independence, initiative and responsibility.

The article deals with transition from kindergarten to first grade at primary school as a process involving the child, the family and educational institutions of different levels. It discloses the notion of effective transition as a set of conditions in which a child can enter school life, find its place in it, establish communication with adults and peers, show independence, experience emotional well-being, etc. Empirical research shows a connection between preschool educational environment and effective transition to the first grade at primary school. The preschool environment is assessed by the degree of its orientation to the child, democracy, etc. (as described in the method called The scales for comprehensive rating of the quality of education in preschool educational organizations, ECERS). Transition is rated according to the degree of success in how a child gets used to school, the level of his independence, self-confidence and so on, as described in The checklist of a child’s social and emotional development, PSED. The result shows that schoolchildren with greater independence in the first grade are those exposed to a preschool environment where care-givers encourage dialogue, respect between children and adults, contribute to independent resolution of conflicts, emphasize positive behavior, practice a smooth, intuitive transition between different activities and so forth. It suggests that the creation of such an environment is more effective than consistent and targeted training.

Parents of young children (1-2 years) often turn to a psychologist with the issue of whims and caprices. The author tried to generalize and systematize parental questions and their “answers” to them. The author did not try to restrict the answers to usual recommendations, but describes the sessions with parents from personal practice. As it turned out that to cope with the children’s whims and stubbornness is much easier than to understand the sources of their origin. They are quite a mixed in depth and content.