EARLY CHILDHOOD AS A STRATEGIC STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT: SCIENTIFIC BASIS AND PEDAGOGICAL VECTORS

Abstract

The article highlights early childhood as a strategically important stage of personality development, which plays a crucial role in the formation of basic mental functions, social skills, and emotional resilience. The author analyzes the current state of research in the field of early childhood in Ukraine, noting the growing scientific and public interest in this issue. Particular attention is paid to the integration of classical developmental theories (J. Bowlby, L. Vygotsky, H. Gardner, M. Montessori, J. Piaget), which makes it possible to comprehensively address the emotional, social, and cognitive aspects of early childhood development. The focus of the study is J. Piaget’s cognitive theory, specifically the sensorimotor stage, which lays the foundation for the development of thinking through active interaction with the physical world. L. Vygotsky’s sociocultural concept reveals the significance of the zone of proximal development and the role of the adult as a mediator in the learning process. J. Bowlby’s attachment theory emphasizes the importance of a secure emotional bond between the child and the caregiver in the first years of life for ensuring psychological well-being. The article also considers the main approaches to understanding the nature of intelligence in pedagogical and psychological science. Special attention is given to H. Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, which underscores the multidimensionality of children's intellectual potential, as well as M. Montessori’s educational system, which is aimed at fostering autonomy, self-regulation, and individual abilities during the preschool years. The article argues that the creation of a supportive educational environment that takes into account the individual needs of children contributes to the development of key life competencies. Early childhood is viewed as a sensitive period of development during which pedagogical support must be evidence-based, comprehensive, and highly responsive to the unique needs of each child. The formation of the foundations for personal, cognitive, and emotional development during this period determines the trajectory of future socialization and successful integration into the educational environment. Therefore, the development of a young child is considered not only an individual path of growth but also a strategically important social priority that requires coordinated actions from state institutions, the educational community, and parents.