STUDYING A CHILD'S EMOTIONAL STATE THROUGH PROJECTIVE METHODS DURING SCHOOL READINESS

The transition to school is one of the most critical turning points in a child's life, where emotional stability plays a decisive role alongside intellectual potential. This research article is dedicated to analyzing the diagnostic possibilities of projective methods in studying the socio-emotional state of preschool children during their transition to formal schooling. The relevance of the research lies in the fact that traditional questionnaires and interviews, due to the age-related characteristics of the child, cannot always fully reveal internal fears, latent anxieties, and adaptation-related problems. Therefore, the study scientifically justifies the effectiveness of studying a child's subconscious experiences through projective methodologies such as "Cactus," "My Family," "House-Tree-Person," and "Non-existent Animal." Within the framework of a practical experiment conducted in preschool educational institutions in Jizzakh, the emotional state of 50 graduates was analyzed. The research methodology is based on the psychological interpretation of graphic images, color gamuts, and line dynamics. The results showed that nearly 30 percent of children preparing for school have high levels of latent anxiety and elements of fear toward the school environment, which may not be visible in external behavior. Through projective methods, the child's self-esteem, level of aggression, and social adaptability characteristics were identified. At the conclusion of the study, practical recommendations were developed for psychologists and methodologists of preschool educational organizations on integrating projective diagnostics into the school readiness monitoring system. This approach allows for early preventive measures to ensure the child's successful adaptation to school. In conclusion, projective methods are the most reliable and transparent tools for understanding a child's emotional world, serving to increase overall educational efficiency.