Critical thinking of children of senior preschool age: history, essence, means of development

Abstract

Abstract. The article is devoted to the problem of developing critical thinking of senior preschool
children. Critical thinking is analyzed as a scientific and philosophical problem; the evolution of views on critical thinking is characterized; emphasis is placed on foreign research and it is determined that thinking critically means the ability to consciously evaluate, reason, think, i.e. to show a person’s mental, emotional, cognitive activity which should be aimed at solving a specific problem. Based on the
analysis of psychological and pedagogical literature, it is concluded that the development of critical thinking of senior preschool children is a dynamic process characterized by the ability to perform basic critical operations in relation to information or problem situation, manifested in the ability to analyze, evaluate, make decisions. It is clarified that the successful development of critical thinking in senior preschool children in the educational process is provided by a set of pedagogical conditions:
activation of cognitive activity of preschoolers, aimed at obtaining information necessary to assess and justify their position on the issue; formation of the need for cognitive activity; creating opportunities for gaining experience in the manifestation of critical thinking through experimentation. An original,
effective tool for effective development of critical thinking in senior preschool children – eidetics which aims to develop all mental processes and activates, all possible resources of human memory for the use
of acquired knowledge in life and promotes the harmonious development of both hemispheres of the brain. The following main educational and upbringing tasks are solved which is solved by eidotechnics: expands the creative possibilities of the child due to the harmonious work of the left (logic) and right (creativity, figurative thinking) hemispheres of the brain; forms children’s ability to learn effectively and independently; increases the child’s self-esteem due to the effectiveness of learning, creating
psychological comfort; organizes attention and helps to form skills for the conscious imagination.
Eidetic methods and techniques that promote the development of critical thinking in senior preschool children are identified.