1986'4, p.36
Sapogova Ye. Ye.
Peculiartities of the transitory period in 6-7-years old children
(RESUME)

The transitory period between the pre-school and school stages of childhood (traditionally called "the crisis of 7 years") has been studied. Parents, educators, and teachers were talked to, and a method of establishing the level of development of imagination and of the symbolic function outlined by L.S. Vygotsky and adapted to the purpose of the study was used. It has been proved that the "crisis" is real and is related to the change of the leading activity; its manifestation depends also on the level of imagination and symbolism. Children characterized by lesser development of them manifest the transition phenomena during the first year in school; majority of children come through the crisis in pre-school years, they demonstrate higher level of imagination and symbolism, and all negative trends in their behavior disappear when they begin studying at school.