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The article presents the results of a study into the structure of metacognition in preschool years. The methods used included metacognitive conversation and experiments. The experiment consisted of introducing a problem situation, discussing a plan of action with a child, implementing the plan, summing up the results. A total of 80 children of 4-7 years were surveyed. It was shown that preschool age is a sensitive period for children’s metacognitive development, with the age of 5-6 years being the most significant one. When in their senior preschool age kids begin to form a dialectic understanding of cognitive activity as a dynamic system which includes conflicting characteristics. 5-7 year-old children are able to set themselves a dialectic task aiming to perceive the specific properties of an object, its relationships with surrounding objects and possible directions of development. Older preschoolers are in a position to identify possible educational tools based on internal and external factors, and to draw up long-term programs of logical actions that involve different options for problem solving. They also display elements of meaningful self-control.

A child’s ability to manage own activity is a condition of effective learning. The self-regulation of cognitive activity is carried out by means of metacognitive processes: goal-setting; highlighting the conditions of activity; programs of action; self-control. Metacognitive processes can be formal and dialectical according to the contents. Formal regulatory structures define knowledge as a set of unrelated actions aimed at the study of static and isolated properties of object. Dialectic metacognitive structures direct the subject to a comprehensive investigation of object, usage of all available resources, application of the different action programs and the substantial analysis of the achievements. Usage of visual models promotes the development of metacognitive processes in children of preschool age. It is difficult for children to hold the plan of activity and to control achievements due to the nature of their arbitrariness, thinking and memory. Experimental study of 40 children of 4-6 years showed that the visual models are an effective means of regulation of cognitive activity during its realization. The use of such models in the educational activity significantly influences on development of metacognitive processes such as analysis of the conditions of knowledge and programming of actions. Formation of the dialectical notion of cognition and skills to plan a cognitive process is organized by usage of metacognitive conversations. Such work is most effective with children 5–6 years.

The paper presents the results of research devoted to mental representations functioning in preschool age. The results of studies of the formation of the metacognitive knowledge and understanding of emotions show the need to create conditions for the development of child mental representations. The experience of designing and creating educational situations, aimed at developing children’s ideas about the cognitive and emotional processes is described. Most important aspects of the content of the work and the methods of its implementation are highlighted. It is shown that in the work on the formation of children’s mental representations in verbal techniques can be used. The advantages of active learning methods (games and experiments) are shown. Evidence of the effectiveness of the work, indicating the possibility of formation of children’s mental representations are described.