THEORETICAL BASICS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF CREATIVITY IN CHILDREN OF OLDER PRESCHOOL AGE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING TO KNOW THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The article is devoted to the substantiation of the theoretical foundations of the development of creativity in children of older preschool age in the process of familiarization with the natural environment. Psychological and pedagogical scientific approaches to defining the concepts of “creativity” and “creativity development” have been analyzed. The main criteria of creativity of preschool children are singled out and characterized, including: originality, creativity, variability, flexibility, speed. The use of such methods of creativity development in the process of familiarization with the natural environment as research activity, role-playing, artistic activity, theatrical activity, design activity, animal care, reading fiction, visiting wildlife reserves, zoos, botanical gardens, natural parks and public squares is substantiated. It was determined that the older preschool age is a sensitive period for the development of creativity due to the fact that “primary” creativity, as a general creative ability, is formed at this age. The conditions for the development of creativity in older preschool children in the process of familiarization with the natural environment are outlined: enrichment of the emotional and sensory experience of older preschool children; arrangement of the natural environment in a preschool education institution in a certain way for the formation of combinatorial mechanisms of imagination; valuable attitude to the creative process, the creative nature of activity in the natural environment; a sufficient level of children’s interest in solving creative tasks in classes on familiarization with the natural environment; problematization of the educational space of the preschool education institution; manual dexterity, awareness, experience; opportunities to use one’s creative activity in the educational environment of a preschool education institution in various forms of educational activity; compliance by teaching staff with program tasks regarding the creative development of preschoolers; availability of necessary materials and equipment for creativity.