Economic education of senior preschoolers by means of didactic game

Abstract

The article deals with the economic education of senior preschoolers. The essence of the concept of “economic educationˮ from the standpoint of domestic and foreign scholars is analyzed. It was determined that the economic education of preschoolers presupposes the existence of the established consistent relationship between its main structural components such as knowledge, skills and actions. The article describes the tasks (ensuring that preschoolers receive the necessary economic knowledge within their life experience; the formation of the ability to use relevant economic experience necessary information in a child’s playing, studying, household situations) and stages (indicative-adaptive; activity-behavioral; activity-creative) of economic education of preschoolers. The use of didactic games as a means of economic education is analyzed. It is argued that a didactic game is a learning tool which can be used to provide certain knowledge, as well as their consolidation. In the process of didactic play preschoolers have the opportunity to act independently and without outside help gain their own economic experience. Through economic play, preschoolers can develop economic thinking, financial literacy and learn to make managerial decisions. It was concluded that the result of economic education is the formation of economic knowledge, skills, and experience. The components of economic education of senior preschoolers were identified: cognitive and activity. The research presents the authorʼs original didactic game on the peculiarities of forming the preschoolers’ ideas of primary and secondary needs in economic education. It substantiates the didactic tasks, game tasks and rules, as well as the essence of didactic game on economic education. The effectiveness of the proposed program on economic education of senior preschoolers in preschool education institutions is proved. Keywords: economic education, needs, consumer, preschool children, didactic game, didactic task, preschool institution.