Leading activity - the activity of the child, which he carries out within the social development situation. Its implementation will determine the appearance and development of the main psychological neoplasms in a subject at a certain stage of development in ontogenesis.
At each stage of mental development , a special social development situation is formed, which, in turn, contributes to the fact that the corresponding leading activity is manifested. This is a sign of a transition to a higher level of the psyche.
Leading activities are able to determine the occurrence of a new stage of development, acting as a basic criterion for its diagnosis. It does not appear immediately, but must undergo formation within the framework of the social situation. Moreover, a new activity will not cancel the previous type.
Therefore, the leading activity is a factor that determines the manifestation of major changes and neoplasms in the mental level of development at certain stages of ontogenesis.
How does this happen? Within its framework, all the functions of the child are developed and trained. This will ultimately lead to qualitative changes. The growing possibilities of a growing person will become a source for the manifestation of contradictions in the "child-adult" system, which will "spill over" into the discrepancy of his opportunities with an outdated form of relationship with the environment. It is then that a special crisis of development begins, contributing to the transition to a higher level of ontogenesis.
Let us consider in more detail the course of this process, based on the data of modern research.
During infancy (from birth to one year), the social situation will be determined by the fact that a small child can not do without an adult. He needs him not only to provide physical needs, but also for communication. Therefore, the leading type of activity - direct emotional communication of the child - will form the need and the need for communication with people.
At the stage of early childhood (from one to three years), the baby gets freedom, which is due to the fact that he is already able to move independently. In addition, speech is actively developing, and parents now act as an intermediary between him and the outside world. It is adults who become conductors, and subject-manipulative activity - leading. Thanks to her, motor and speech abilities develop and improve.
In the period of preschool age (from three to seven years), a child enters the world of adults with the help of a role-playing game. Within its framework, he has the opportunity to repeat what he sees in the world around him. That is why there are games in the doctor, seller, robbers, war, family and so on.
At the primary school age (from seven to eleven years), the leading type of activity changes significantly: the main one becomes academic. All efforts of the child should be aimed at learning the basics of science and becoming a subject of activity. In the social situation of development, a new adult appears - a teacher, who now determines the features of his development, evaluating the efforts and abilities of the student.
Starting from adolescence (from eleven to fifteen years), communication with peers becomes a leading type of activity, which manifests itself in various social spheres (educational, artistic, sports, personal, and so on). It is precisely it that is now decisive for the mental development of the lad, and the influence of adults is “fading” into the background.
As the person grows up and socializes, labor activity becomes the main one , contributing to the formation of his professionalism.