On June 23, the Department of Early Childhood and Preschool Development of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology hosted the Regional Scientific and Practical Conference of Young Researchers and Practicing Educators "Modern Early Childhood Education: Current Challenges, Pedagogical Approaches, Innovative Play-Based Methodologies, and Future Development Prospect". The conference brought together researchers, lecturers, practicing educators, higher education students, and everyone interested in the development of modern preschool education.

The aim of the conference was to discuss current issues in preschool education, present research findings, exchange professional experience, and explore effective ways to implement innovative approaches to organizing the educational process in preschool institutions.

The conference participants were welcomed by Olena Leonidivna Karaman, Rector of LTSNU, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor. In her address, she emphasized the exceptional role of preschool education in shaping a child’s personality, highlighted the importance of high-quality training for modern educators, and noted that the conference serves as an important platform for academic dialogue, professional communication, and the exchange of innovative ideas between researchers and practitioners.

The report delivered by Olena Dmytrivna Dziuban, Acting Head of the Department of Education of the Rubizhne City Military Administration of Sievierodonetsk District, Luhansk Region, on the topic ‘The Work of the Education Department and Preschool Institutions During Wartime’ was both informative and highly relevant. Together with educators, the speaker presented the experience of organizing the work of preschool institutions under martial law, focusing on distance learning, support for participants in the educational process, and ensuring the quality of preschool education.

The presentation by Nataliia Fedorivna Makhovyk and Karyna Volodymyrivna Shtefiuk, educators and teacher-methodologists from Kherson Preschool Education Institution No. 5, titled ‘Innovative Vectors of a Preschool Educator’s Professional Activity in the Context of Digitalization and the Use of High-Tech Systems,’ was engaging and practice-oriented. The speakers presented modern approaches to organizing educators’ professional activities, shared their experience of using digital platforms and interactive resources, and emphasized the development of teachers’ digital competence.

The presentation by Tetiana Stepanenko, author of a series of educational and developmental workbooks for preschool children, attracted practical interest. Her report, ‘Workbooks as a Modern Tool for Developing Mathematical Competence and Logical Thinking in Preschool Children,’ focused on innovative approaches to early mathematical development. The speaker presented her own educational and developmental workbooks and donated her author-developed materials to the department, where they will serve as a valuable educational and methodological resource for training future educators.

Oleksandra Vasylchenko, an educator at the private kindergarten YUMI KIDS LLC (Dnipro), shared her practical experience and highlighted the specific features of organizing the work of a private preschool institution. An important and timely report titled ‘Strategies for Developing Mine Safety Skills in Early Childhood and Preschool-Age Children (2–6 Years)’ was presented by Oleksandra Smirnova, a nursery group educator at Municipal Nursery-Kindergarten No. 2 “Olenka” of the Myrhorod City Council.

The participants also showed interest in the presentation by Anastasiia Shevchyk, a first-year student in the ‘Special Education. Speech Therapy’ programme, who delivered a report titled ‘Teaching Reading to Children with Special Educational Needs Using the Hibuki Therapy Method.’

The use of modern digital technologies in educators’ professional development was discussed by Iryna Ivanivna Yaryta, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, lecturer at the Separate Structural Unit ‘Kadiivka Professional Pedagogical College,’ and Svitlana Anatoliivna Zhukovska, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, methodologist at the Laboratory of Digital and Media Technologies in Education of the Scientific and Methodological Centre for Higher and Professional Pre-Higher Education. In their report, ‘Electronic Educational Resources as a Tool for Educators’ Professional Development: Experience of Creating the Massive Open Online Course “Child Psychology,”’ they presented their experience in developing the online course and outlined opportunities for using electronic educational resources to enhance educators’ professional competencies.

During the sectional sessions, young researchers, students, and practicing educators presented the results of their own research dedicated to current issues in preschool education, inclusive learning, speech development, sensory-motor skills, creative abilities, moral education of preschool children, and the implementation of modern educational technologies.

The conference became a platform for constructive professional dialogue, experience sharing, and the presentation of innovative ideas and research achievements by young scholars and practicing educators.

We sincerely thank all participants, speakers, academic supervisors, and conference organizers for their active involvement, meaningful presentations, engaging discussions, and significant contribution to the development of modern preschool education. We wish them further academic achievements, creative inspiration, professional growth, and successful implementation of new educational initiatives!