Assessment of Imagination in Senior Preschoolers by Educators

Abstract

Background. The relevance of this study is determined by the importance of timely assessment and development of imagination in preschoolers for their harmonious development and further successful schooling. Objective. The aim of the study was to develop a questionnaire for kindergarteners aimed at assessing the imagination in preschoolers. Methods. As a part of this study, a questionnaire to assess the characteristics of imagination in preschoolers was developed, which included 22 statements about children behavior, which teachers had to evaluate on a 5-point scale. Also, with a part of the sample, the “Complete the Drawing” technique was carried out. Sample. In the study, educators assessed 553 pupils of senior groups (M = 65.3; SD = 4.03 months; 48.1% of boys) attending kindergartens in 4 regions of Russia (37.1% of children from Moscow, 32.6% from the Tatarstan Republic, 22.3% from the Sakha Republic, 9.1% from the Perm Region) Results. As a result of the statistical analysis, a three-factor structure of the created questionnaire was revealed. It was found that educators rate the level of imagination development higher in girls than in boys. Comparison of teachers' assessments with the results of children's imagination assessment using the “Complete the Drawing” technique showed the relationship with such parameters of drawings as flexibility, originality and elaboration. Conclusion. The study showed the reliability of the developed questionnaire for educators, which indicates the possibility of its use in monitoring the development of modern senior preschoolers.

Keywords

• preschool age
• imagination
• creativity
• flexibility
• originality
• elaboration
• fluency
• drawing figures
• kindergartener