Kovalenko V.Ye. - Substantive orientation of schoolchildren with intellectual disabilities’ interests as a factor of their involvement in group work

Contact: Kovalenko Viktoriia, PhD of psychology, Associate Professor, Doctoral Candidate of the Department of Psychocorrectional Pedagogy, National Pedagogical Dragomanov University, Kyiv, Ukraine; associate professor of the department of Human Health, Rehabilitology and Special Psychology Department, H.S.Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine. In the sphere of scientific interests: the problem of socialization of children with intellectual disabilities in out-of-school education institutions, the organization of correctional and pedagogical activity of the teacher in the conditions of educational inclusiveness.

The article considers the problem of meaningful orientation of students with intellectual disabilities’ interests as a factor in their involvement in the group work of out-of-school educational institutions. The concept of «interest» is characterized, the criteria and indicators of the presence of students with intellectual disabilities’ interests are defined. Criteria for the child’s interest are: focus on the subject, initiating questions, activity, independence, thirst for activity, dreams of its expansion and deepening, achievement, and indicators – a positive attitude, emotional and cognitive orientation, intrinsic motivation. It is established that children’s interests are a powerful means of optimizing the effectiveness of education and psychosocial development disorders’ correction. The article presents the results of a survey of primary school children’s parents, adolescents and senior students with intellectual disabilities on the presence and content of the interests and aptitudes of their children. It is established that the majority of children with intellectual disabilities, in the opinion of their parents, are interested in artistic, aesthetic, artistic and sports areas of out-of-school education. Students are interested in various sports, games, drawing, modeling, music, sewing, drawing, playing the computer, watching videos of bloggers, TV, shoot videos on their own, post them on social networks, etc. However, a group of students who are not interested in any activity was identified. The age peculiarities of children with intellectual disabilities’ interests are determined, which in the primary school age are characterized by episodicity, situationality and instability, and with age acquire personal meaning and greater stability.

Key words: schoolchildren with intellectual disabilities, personality, interests, extracurricular education, group work.