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Introduction. The article contains materials of a ten year longitudinal study of emotional sphere of children who survived a terrorist attack in preschool and junior school age (Beslan, Russia, 2004). The purpose of the work is to identify the aspects of fears of children who suffered a psychological trauma in an extreme social life-threatening situation.

Methods. The research methodology is based on the Vygotsky’s approach to the significance of a social environment for child development. Research methods included: annual screening by a series of drawing tests, including specially designed tests that take into account the specific nature of the trauma; expert review of materials; statistical data analysis; comparative analysis of the results by age, degree of involvement in the traumatic event and the temporal distance from it.

Results. Describes the mass trauma, its aspects, the impact on the social environment of children development, as well as the impact of ethno-cultural characteristics of the community on the duration of the trauma. Large amount of test drawings provided data for identifying of specific character of the age dynamics of fears in child “hostages” and child “witnesses”. The difference in the fears of children of these two groups is shown in terms of content and duration, despite the similarity of the initial symptomatology. The concepts of “fear of a threat” and “fear of consequences” are introduced.

Conclusions. The phenomenon of “mass trauma” was associated not only with a traumatic event, but also with the ethno-cultural characteristics of the community. The mass trauma has changed the nature of the functioning of the community, its relation to “fear”, increased its reactivity (“insecurity”). At the same time, the fears of children in time were associated more with their general cultural contexts than with the traumatic event itself. Differences in the specific nature of fears of child “hostages” and child “witnesses” in terms of content, intensity and damping in time are shown. It was revealed that the hostages had more pronounced “fear of consequences”, and witnesses had “fear of a threat”.

Introduction. The paper introduces the idea of a pedagogical project, that is going to be tested in several preschools in St. Petersburg, Russia. The significance of the project is determined by the importance of social and cultural design as one of the key methods for providing fair and positive environment for child development during the preschool period.

Methods. Methodologically the research is based on: academic, and subject approach; concept of development of a preschool child as a subject of children’s activities and behavior (T. I. Babayeva, A. G. Gogoberidze and othes); the concept of cultural and historical development of a child personality by mastery of experiences of previous generations (L.S. Vygotsky, A.N. Leontiev), provided that they interact with adults (N. F. Radionova); research data on individual behavior and activity of senior preschoolers in of St. Petersburg, obtained at the turn of the 2010s. System analysis was applied, including theoretical analysis of philosophical, psychological and pedagogical literature on the research subject, developing method of learning materials “St. Petersburg - the Territory of Childhood”, ensuring the subjective engagement the senior preschool children with design of social and cultural learning environment for their development.

Results. The results of the research contain an analysis of organizing of educational potential of the social and cultural environment in St. Petersburg for development of preschool students. Development and testing of methodological tools for studying values, interests, culture and subculture, subjective manifestations of children, methods for identifying motivation for development, assessing the potential for personal development. Approaches to design of additional cultural and artistic programs, programs for design of environment of a modern kindergarten have been determined. The characteristics of the key implementation tools of the Project, institutionally represented by the educational and methodical complex “St. Petersburg - the Territory of Childhood”, which has a culturally oriented development, is presented.

Conclusion. The study first attempted to identify the conditions under which a senior preschooler can become a designer of social and cultural learning environment for their development. The data can be used by Childhood experts to create a modern space for children culture, subculture, activities that form a unique “world of childhood” that determines a unique development of the child individual cultural experiences.

Introduction. The article discusses the problem of personal orientation of future teachers for professional activities, theoretically substantiates the need to regulate the interrelated processes of developing regulatory and personal Universal Learning Activities and social and personal competences that affect the formation of intrapersonal motivation for professional activities. The methodological basis of the research is the concept of Universal Learning Activities of A.G. Asmolov, system and competence approaches in higher professional education, subject-humanistic attitude to education.

Purpose of research is to highlight the components of the university educational environment that contribute to the formation of intrapersonal motivation for learning activities though regulation of interrelated processes of developing regulatory and personal Universal Learning Activities and social and personal competencies.

Methods. The following instruments were used in the course of the research: the scale of professional competence assessment of Ferrandes-Berrueco, Reina and Sanchez-Tarazaga; the questionnaire of students’ learning activity of I.S. Labytseva, the methodology of diagnosing students’ motivation for learning of S.M. Ketko, S.A. Pakulina.

Results. The results of the complex diagnostics of professional competencies and motivation of students for learning reveal lack of student activity reflecting social purpose and personal orientation of their professional judgments. The potentials and methodological characteristics of using case technologies are defined with the purpose of developing students’ regulative and personal Universal Learning Activities in the process of continuous pedagogical practice.

Conclusions. Purposeful formation of regulatory and personal Universal Learning Activities with the subsequent development of social and personal competencies is aimed at the enhancement of intrapersonal motivation for learning, personal interest and responsibility towards professional activities. Optimization of the process of professional training of preschool and primary education teachers assumes formation of an educational environment that considers individual motives of everyone’s professional activity in the teamwork.

This article explores the development of a child in a heterogeneous social group. The communication process for preschoolers in a heterogeneous social environment contains potential risks for the origin and materialization of various communication difficulties that are related to negative affirmations, incomprehension, rejection, unwillingness to collaborate with partners that possess different characteristics (nationality, health, family setting, behaviour etc. ). Heterogeneity is contemplated not only as a risk factor but also as a resource for children’s socialization, development of toleration, social flexibility, mobility, and communication competencies. The findings of two series of studies are presented: The first series (n=120) highlighted communication difficulties and types of communication difficulties for preschoolers in a heterogeneous social environment in kindergarten; the second series created psychological and pedagogical conditions for the development of toleration as a basis of constructive interaction for children in a heterogeneous group. The following types of communication difficulties for children in a heterogeneous group were identified: hyperactive, shy, and hysterical. It is shown that every type has specific communication difficulties associated with a low level of toleranca development. The results of an educational experiment are presented. The experiment was aimed at supporting preschoolers in overcoming actual communication difficulties through the development of structural components of toleration. The psychological and pedagogical conditions of this process are well justified (to ensure the readiness of educators to train preschoolers to be tolerant and to involve preschoolers in creative activities to design and transform the educational circumstances which create a socially heterogeneous environment).

The author focuses on the issue of cognitive development in the process of environmental education as a means of socialization for 5-6 year-old children, and explores the modern pedagogical approach to the issue of child socialization, proving its necessity for human development at every age. The paper reveals the potentialities of the system of environmental education in the cognitive and social development of 5-6 year-olds in light of Lev Vygotsky’s cultural-historical theory, and presents concrete models for working with preschool children within the framework of the traditional Young Ecologist Programme, aimed at helping children in their indicative-symbolic and research activities. The possibility of including the family in the process of educational and social development of preschoolers is outlined in the paper.

The article deals with the importance of preschool children’s literary development in an individual’s socialization at the present stage. Literary development is construed by the author to preschoolers’ mastery of all the riches of their native language to express the thoughts and feelings they attain by reading children’s literature, and mastery of communication culture, ability to come into contact with and engage in a dialogue with adults and their own peers and use speech etiquette. Children’s literature is a powerful educational tool, it should become a developing environment and provide education to preschool children, making it possible to diversify and create a complete educational environment of childhood both in a kindergarten and at home. The author offers a program which has been developed by kindergarten teachers in Mozhaisk. It aims at developing children’s interest in reading, their love for literature, exposing senior preschool children to Russian literary culture. The author notes that this program is an example of reading literary works in the educational process, the contents of which are organically included in the direct educational activities through organizing various types of children’s activities.

The article describes the partial program “Happy day of a preschooler”, created by a group of authors on the basis of the program of the composer S. Korenblit. The program is based on the principle of self-development of the child through social organization (Vygotsky), developmental environment and new forms of interaction of children with adults, peers via modern ICT means. The principle of self-development is implemented in the program as “spontaneous” development (Zaporozhets), which involves a dialogue between child and adult, children with their peers in activities and communication; the emergence and resolution of the dialectical contradictions between the desires and capabilities of the child, demands to him by others and logical operations; mutual transitions between work in the zone of proximal development (Vygotsky) and independent children’s activity. The program is designed to provide all-round development of children through creative emotional activity.

In the context of the implementation of the Federal State Educational Standard of preschool education study of the theory and practice of humanistic concepts of preschool education in which there is a wealth of experience of practical implementation of the central provisions of the standard preschool education, such as support for children’s initiative, free games, work on the development of educational content areas within the types of children activities, creation of favorable social conditions and environment conducive to development, becomes very important. This article examines the theoretical bases of free games, psychology of play - the views of Piaget and Vygotsky, pedagogy of free play in Waldorf kindergarten and developmental effects of free games. It is shown that in the free play there is not only a support of children’s initiatives, but play also can be realized in the work of five learning areas in the context of children’s daily lives. Elements of Waldorf pedagogy can be used in the practice of Russian kindergartens in the context of the implementation of the Federal State Educational Standard of preschool education.

Background. Social perceptions of the administrators of educational institutions about the psychological characteristics of the educational environment are a key factor influencing the effectiveness of the system of interaction in the team. The organizational and managerial component of the educational environment is of primary importance in the formation of a psychologically safe kindergarten educational environment that promotes the maintenance of the emotional well-being of all its subjects.

Objective. Theoretical and empirical substantiation of the development of a program of social and psychological support for kindergarten managers, as well as an assessment of its effectiveness.

Sample. The study involved 111 kindergarten managers from seven cities of Russia. 72 people participated in the formative experiment: directors, deputy directors and senior preschool teachers aged 35 to 70 years.

Methods. The study used survey and diagnostic (questionnaires, surveys) methods, observations, and a formative experiment. The content analysis of the associations of managers was carried out using the methodology of P. Verges (Vergès, 1992).

Results. The study shows that the administrator is a key link in ensuring psychological safety in an educational institution, which emphasizes the importance of identifying and adjusting social perceptions about creating safe learning conditions. These perceptions play a significant role in shaping the organizational and managerial component of the educational environment of a preschool educational institution. The study defines the structure of social perceptions of preschool educational institution directors before and after participating in the program of socio-psychological support. The content of these perceptions was also revealed and described, and then the changes that occurred as a result of the formative experiment were analyzed.

Conclusions. The program of social and psychological support, including five semantic blocks: diagnostic, informational, educational, formative, reflexive and analytical, is an effective tool for forming social perceptions of preschool educational institution heads about the principles of organizing a psychologically safe educational environment in a kindergarten.

Background. The article highlights the problem of communication and socialization of older preschool children with severe speech impairments and with normal speech development, attending preparatory groups of combined kindergartens for school. In recent years, in kindergartens, groups of a combined orientation that are inclusive are increasingly functioning, which necessitates the search for effective ways of psychological and pedagogical work.

Objectives. The purpose of the work is to study the state of communication of preschoolers 6–7 years old with severe speech impairments in comparison with peers with normal speech development, in relation to indicators of their socialization in inclusive educational conditions.

Sample. In total, the study involved 60 children aged 6–7 years who attended preparatory groups of a combined orientation of Irkutsk kindergarten No. 153. Of these, 30 preschoolers had normal speech development and the same number with severe speech impairments.

Methods. The following methods were used in the study: “Studying communication and the nature of interpersonal relationships” (Aizman et al., 1994); the method of expert scale assessment of the development of social forms of behavior in older preschoolers by A.M. Shchetinina and L.V. Kirs (Shchetinina, 2000).

Results. It was found that children aged 6–7 years with speech disorders have significantly lower communication and socialization rates than their peers with normal speech ontogenesis. It was shown that studying the level of communication of preschool children can serve both as a reliable indicator of their preschool socialization and a basis for determining the conditions of psychological support for children with severe speech disorders in an inclusive environment.

Conclusions. Data were obtained on the communication of preschoolers studying in inclusive conditions. Firstly, the constant communication of 6–7-year-old children with normal speech development with peers with severe speech disorders in conditions of inclusion does not influence their communicative and social development. Secondly, despite the fact that severe speech disorders in children aged 6-7 years cause imperfection in the formation of communication skills and, in general, their socialization, an increase in the frequency of communication with peers has a positive effect on their social development for all preschoolers.