The pilot study of functionality, achievements and personality factors in older preschool children with typical and atypical development

The aim of this study was to determine the applied value of assessing preschool children functionality with typical development, delay of mental development, mental retardation in kindergarten conditions. Authors examined children aged 6-7 years with typical development (N = 18), delay of mental development (N = 18), mental retardation (N = 6). Rating scales of functionality, preschooler's competencies and a personality questionnaire M5-PS were used. With use of the same techniques 44 children with typical development between the ages of 5.5 and 7 years were assessed. It was found that typically developing children are more capable than children with delay of mental development and mental retardation. And children with delay of mental development are more functional than children with mental retardation. Similar results were obtained with respect to formation of individual-oriented and social-oriented competencies, quantitative values of personality factors “Openness to Experience”, “Conscientiousness”, “Extraversion”. Similar differences identified between typically developing children groups with low, medium and high level of functionality.

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