ACADEMIC TEXTS REPOSITORY

Summary

The methodological article highlights the urgent need to cultivate civic identity in young children, a critical step for fostering a resilient democratic society in Ukraine, especially amid wartime social and psychological challenges. The preschool period is identified as the key stage for developing foundational socio-civic competence, as emphasised in the Basic Component of Preschool Education (BCPE). «Preschooler’s civic identity» is defined not only as intellectual knowledge but as an emerging value-based consciousness and emotional awareness of belonging to the Ukrainian nation, its culture, traditions, and state, forming a basis for responsible future citizenship and social participation. The article emphasises that verbal interaction and communication are primary vehicle for this development, enabling children to internalise social norms, ethical principles, and national values from an early age. The research outlines essential structural components, priority directions, and pedagogical conditions for effective identity formation, including creating a rich, supportive, and engaging linguistic, cultural, and social environment. Practically, the work presents instructional strategies and activity formats integrating language development with national-patriotic education: speech games promoting social roles, communicative scenarios enhancing empathy and dialogue, artistic-linguistic exercises using folklore and literature, and collaborative creative projects emphasising local community, traditions, and cultural heritage. These methods aim to foster children’s sense of belonging, responsibility, social-verbal engagement, and ethical awareness, providing educators with a clear methodological framework to improve the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of preschool education.