Empirical Research on the Development of Metaskills in 4–5-year-old Children through Kazakh National Games

Abstract

The article examines the development of metaskills in children aged 4–5 through the use of Kazakh national games in preschool institutions. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to form universal abilities essential for modern individuals (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, self-regulation, and emotional control) starting from the preschool stage. The empirical research was conducted at KME “Kindergarten No. 187” under the Department of Education of Almaty, involving 40 children (20 in the control group and 20 in the experimental group). As a result of the systematic use of national games such as Asyk, Bes tas, and Khantalaipay, a significant improvement in metaskills was observed among the children in the experimental group. During the Kazakh national game Asyk, the development of children’s physical qualities — including agility, speed, endurance, coordination, and balance — is examined, and the interrelation between physical qualities and metaskills in children aged 4–5 is described. The results confirmed the effectiveness of integrating national games into the educational process and demonstrated the necessity of systematically incorporating them into preschool curricula.