A STUDY OF SPATIAL ORIENTATION AND CONSTRUCTIVE PRAXIS DISORDERS IN NORMALLY DEVELOPING AND MENTALLY RETARDED...

Aim- to study spatial orientation and constructive praxis disorders in normally developed and mentally retarded children aged 8-11. The research was performed in the research laboratory of the Faculty of Special and Inclusive Education at the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Kh. Abovyan and Armenian state institute of physical culture and sport. A total of 131 children aged between 8 and 11 years participated in the study, including 73 healthy schoolchildren and 58 children with mild mental retardation. The results of the experimental study of task performance show that interesting data have been obtained which will serve as a basis for the development of necessary means, methods, and conditions for the development of elementary practical orientation in mentally retarded elementary school children. The analysis of the results of the study allows us to highlight the following important points: - Mentally retarded younger pupils lag behind their healthy peers in all the studied indicators. - 8-9-year-old have less developed practical spatial orientation skills than their older counterparts. The results of the conducted experimental research testify to insufficient development of elementary practical orientation and understanding of spatial relations of objects in mentally retarded elementary school children.