Editors' Introduction: D.B. El'konin and the Evolution of Developmental Psychology

This issue of the Journal of Russian and East European Psychology consists wholly of works by D.B. El'konin (1914-1984). His entire scientific career, spanning more than fifty years, was devoted to study of the fundamental problems of child and educational psychology. His pen is responsible for writings dedicated to such questions as the history of childhood, the development of children at different ages and its periodizaton, the psychology of play and learning activity, psychodiagnostics, the development of children's speech, and how children learn to read. They are truly a priceless resource in Russian and world psychology.