Organization of extracurricular activities of children with severe intellectual disabilities in multi-age groups
The urgency of this study stems from the contradiction between the modern orientation of the education of children with severe intellectual disabilities to achieve the maximum possible independent lifestyle and the insufficient use of the socializing potential of their extracurricular activities. The author regards extracurricular activities in the context of constructivist ideas, at the same time relying on classical works dealing with socialization of the children of this category. The purpose of the study is to develop, theoretically substantiate and experimentally test a model of extracurricular activities for children with severe intellectual disabilities based on the concept of “life-world”. The article summarizes and analyzes the data from observations and experimental work, based on which the author concludes that the organization of extracurricular activities in multi-age groups intensifies their socialization mechanisms and enhances progress in their social and personal development and can become one of the conditions for the functioning of the model. The study also reveals the specificity of interaction between the children with severe intellectual disabilities in extracurricular activities in multi-age groups and describes the possible ways of its development in a special school. The article may be useful for the pedagogues of the system of special education.