Yuliya M. Kuznetsova

The article discusses the results of an experiment that was conducted in two Moscow’s kindergartens in 2009–2011. Its purpose was to show that well-organized ecological education forms the basics of ecological culture and develops children intellectually. The current ecological situation urges not only children, but also grownups to have properly developed ecological culture. Proper intellectual development, on the other hand, is the prerequisite for successful preparation of preschoolers for school. During an academic year children witness cyclic nature of plants and observe animals in kindergarten’s “pet corner”, watch and discuss seasons and fill weather calendars, inevitably establishing and learning causative connections existing in nature. All these activities engage children’s perceptual, cognitive and emotional spheres, developing their thinking, analytic abilities and speech. Special emphasis is made on developing children’s ability to construct generalizations and separate different notions.

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.