At all age stages there is a special,the social situation of development characteristic of them only. This is the social position of each child in the system of relationships accepted in society. It is the social situation of development that is the determining factor in the filling of a person's life with a special, characteristic content:
- special relationships with people who directly surround the child;
- leading, special for this stage of development activities (work, teaching, play or communication).
Each age period includesa specific system of rights that a child can use, and the duties that he must constantly perform. Therefore, the social situation of development is not just a psychological phenomenon, but a comprehensive and basic one for the dynamics of the child's formation. Because, it is thanks to her, there are qualitative neoplasms.
How is its content formed? It spontaneously develops, on the basis of historical long experience and taking into account the needs of modern society.
Any child, no matter whathis individual development and degree of readiness, reaching a specific age, will be put in the appropriate, accepted for the society of the situation. Thus, it will fall into a system of conditions that determine its further development and the nature of the activity at a given age. Therefore, the child is facing a certain dilemma: he must necessarily comply with these conditions or not. Only in this case he can feel psychologically and emotionally comfortable.
Consequently, the social situation of development is a characteristic combination of external conditions and internal processes characteristic of all age stages.
Let's consider in more detail preschool and teenage periods.
Thanks to the emotional and psychologicalseparation of a child of three years of age from adults, certain prerequisites arise for the emergence of a new social situation for the development of a preschool child. The kid can now go outside his family for the first time and establish a new level of relationships in other adults and children. What is it for?
The child tries to "enter" into the world of adults,perceiving them as carriers of social roles. That's why the subject-role games with other children are actively developing into robbers, a doctor, a chauffeur, a doctor and so on. It's important for the preschooler to "enter" into the adult world, so "modeling" of him becomes the main thing in mental development.
The social situation of adolescent development issomewhat different problem. This age is the base for the transition from childhood to a responsible and independent life. Therefore, this "intermediate" position has a significant impact on the course of this period.
First, the basic anatomical and physiological changes begin. For several years the child's body turns into an adult, and a special role is given to sexual development.
Secondly, another level is being formedrelationships with peers and adults. This is especially true for interactions with the family, because the physical and spiritual life is moving to the outside world as much as possible. The first place is now occupied by relations with peers, with whom there are common interests. They are built on a higher and more complex level, as teenagers are passionate about collaborative activities and intimate topics for them. Emotionally comfortable state is determined by whether he is included in any group of peers.
Therefore, in order to ensure the optimal development of the child, it is necessary to provide him with a "correct" social development situation.
