On February 3, 2020, Elena Olegovna Smirnova an outstanding Russian scientist, specialist in child psychology, PhD in Psychology, Professor, Нead of the Center of Psychological and Pedagogical Expertise of Games and Toys, winner of the Russian government award in the field of education for the cycle of works "The system of upbringing and development of children from birth to seven years", passed away. E.O. Smirnova's scientific activity was evaluated by high government awards: the K.D. Ushinsky medal and the G.I. Chelpanov medal "For contribution to the development of psychological science" of the II degree.
Elena Olegovna Smirnova was born on November 1, 1947 in Moscow in a family of employees (mother — a doctor, father — a chemist, PhD). In 1966, she entered the newly created faculty of psychology at Moscow State University. Her teachers were A.N. Leontiev, A.R. Luria, A.V. Zaporozhets, D.B. Elkonin, V.V. Davydov and other remarkable scientists.
In 1969, E.O. Smirnova, while still a third-year student, came to the laboratory of early childhood and preschool psychology of the Psychological Institute Russian Academy of Education, which was headed by M.I. Lisina. For almost forty years professional life of Elena Olegovna was associated with this laboratory, where she went from assistant to head of the laboratory.
In 1977, under the supervision of M. I. Lisina E. O. Smirnova defended her PhD thesis on "The Impact of communication with adults on the effectiveness of preschool children's learning". In 1992 she defended her doctoral dissertation on "The conditions and prerequisites for the formation of behavior self-regulation of children". Both themes interested her all her life, as a scientist and as a person. Elena Olegovna liked to gather people around her and could to create a friendly, warm atmosphere. She understood will as an intention — own internal motivation to activity through which child develops.
Elena Olegovna worked at the Moscow State University of Psychology and Education since its Foundation as a scientist and a lecturer. She considered it her mission to create a toy museum to based on Z.M. Boguslavskaya’ s toys collection. As a result the Center of psychological and pedagogical expertise of games and toys was created. She was the Head of The Center for more than 15 years. Under her leadership the concept and methodology of psychological and pedagogical evaluation of games, toys and children spaces were developed, childhood
and play were researched. Under the scientific supervision of E.O. Smirnova has prepared and defended more than 20 PhD theses.
In 2017 on the basis of Center of Psychological and Pedagogical Expertise of Games and Toys under the leadership of Elena Olegovna a unique master's program "Play and childhood" was developed and realised to train specialists in the field of children's play and the subject-spatial environment.
E.O. Smirnova is the author and co-author of numerous publications: articles, textbooks, manuals, scientific monographs and popular books. The most famous textbooks that have endured many reprints: "Child psychology", "Psychology of a child", "Psychology and pedagogy of play". Pedagogical manuals and educational programs for teachers and specialists working with children: "Didactical games for preschoolers", "Interpersonal relationships of preschoolers", "Diagnostics of mental development of a child from birth to 3 years: diagnostics, problems, correction", "Organization of subject play space in kindergarten", " First steps. The program of Early childhood education and development", "Organization of play activities". Publications for parents: "Art of communication with a child", "Preschooler in the modern world", "Conflict children", " Your child from 0 to 3. A book for young parents." This far from complete list of works reflects the breadth of Elena Olegovna' s interests.
E.O. Smirnova had a talent for popularizing scientific knowledge. She presented scientific data simply and fascinatingly. Her language is recognizable — light and airy, and numerous articles and books are very popular with parents and educators.
Elena Olegovna devoted her life to the humanization of preschool education. She defended the value of children's initiative, the needs and will of a child, defended the children's play, its indispensability and importance for development. Elena Olegovna participated in the development of the Federal State Educational Standard for Preschool Education and made a key contribution in the Standard to the adoption of the value and developing significance of children's play.
In loving memory.