Satari. [Features of imagination of junior schoolchildren with cerebral palsy]

Abstract:
The dissertation research is devoted to the study of the peculiarities of imagination of junior schoolchildren with different clinical manifestations of cerebral palsy. It was suggested that the development of imagination of junior schoolchildren with cerebral palsy has a slower pace (compared to normally developing schoolchildren). In addition, this development can be characterized as having a low level of formed ability to re-construct and combine the acquired experience. The author suggests that the use of a preventive program, which was developed in the course of the study, may influence the development of the imagination sphere. The experiment described in the paper was conducted on the basis of the Center for Psychological-Medical-Social Support “Ramenki” (CPMSS “Ramenki”), home school No. 542 and school of VI type No. 47 at the Children`s Psychoneurological Hospital (DPNB) No. 18 (2008—2010). Children who were brought up in different social conditions were compared on different grounds. As research techniques for the control group were used: a study of recreative imagination (using methodological recommendations of O. V. Borovik), which consists of reading a story to children followed by drawing and telling the child from the drawing; a brief test of creative thinking (CTTM) (based on the Paul Torrance test and the test “Sketches” (subtest #6. Author E. Tunik). Indicators of fluency and flexibility were used. The following methods were also used: copying Taylor`s figure, which was supplemented, if necessary, with the use of visual-motor gestalt test by L. Bender; assessment of the creative potential of children with cerebral palsy when constructing flat geometric figures (author`s method of Konovalenko S. V.). For the experimental group the above described methods were adapted in accordance with the purpose and objectives of the study. The experimental group additionally used a psychodiagnostic complex of methods to determine the level of development of cognitive activity of junior schoolchildren (author L. I. Peresleni, 1996) (in order to exclude pedagogically neglected children from the sample). According to the results of the study it was found that there is no direct correlation between the clinical form of cerebral palsy, severity of motor disorders and data on the development of imagination; quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the imagination of children with different forms of cerebral palsy differ from the norm by peculiarities of development and functioning; children with cerebral palsy have a complex and comprehensive violation of imagination. It was also found that low indicators of productive activity of imagination in children with cerebral palsy contribute to the lag of such processes as: perception, mediated memorization, visual and figurative and verbal-logical thinking. Family upbringing also correlates with the creative component of imagination (but not the factor of full/part-time family). Also the complex that was proposed in the study helps to predict the optimal learning environment for children with cerebral palsy. Separately, the author notes that the activities he developed as part of the study helped to improve the developmental dynamics of children with cerebral palsy.