Shevchenko Yu.V. - Formation of social competencies in children with down syndrome of preschool and primary school age (theoretical aspect)

Information about the author. Yulia Shevchenko, Master of Special Psychology, Researcher of the Department of Psychological and Pedagogical Support of Children with Special Needs. Mykola Yarmachenko Institute of Special Pedagogy and Psychology of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine. Research interests: inclusive education and special education of children with mental and physical disorders, history, early intervention. correctional and developmental work.

The article reveals the peculiarities of the formation of social competencies in children with Down syndrome of preschool and primary school age in a theoretical context. The basic principles and levels of psychological support and assistance to children with special educational needs of this category are outlined, the components of the effectiveness of psychological support and the main activities during the development of social competencies are outlined. Attention is paid to diagnostic, consultative and corrective work in the process of training, socialization and life of such persons. The purpose of the article is to determine the strategy of formation of social competencies in children with Down syndrome of preschool and primary school age, features of psychological support of this category of children, their families and the formulation of areas of work. It is substantiated that psychological support of children with Down syndrome is a prolonged, dynamic process, a holistic activity of the psychological service of the educational  institution, which consists of the following interrelated components: systematic psychological assistance to children with Down syndrome in the form of counseling, psychocorrection, psychological support; psychological assistance to parents raising such children; monitoring the psychological, pedagogical and  social status of the child in the dynamics of his mental development; organization of life of children with special needs in society, taking into account their mental and physical capabilities. An effective solution to these issues is to involve children with Down syndrome in an inclusive educational environment, which provides for the creation of special conditions to meet their educational needs (organizational and methodological, psychological and pedagogical, correctional and developmental, etc.) in learning and socialization.

Key words: social competencies; a child with Down syndrome; psychology; psychological and pedagogical support; correction work.