FOSTERING A CULTURE OF HEALTH PROMOTION AMONG FUTURE PRESCHOOL TEACHERS

<jats:p>The article notes that fostering a culture of health promotion among future preschool educators is one of the priority areas in the modernization of professional teacher education, since today’s preschool teacher must be capable not only of ensuring the harmonious development of children but also of creating a safe, health-promoting, and environmentally sound educational environment. The growing number of factors that negatively affect children’s physical, mental, and social health underscores the need to improve the content of professional training for future educators, focusing on the development of health-promoting competencies, professional responsibility, and readiness to implement modern health-promoting technologies in the practice of preschool education institutions. The aim of this study is to provide a theoretical justification for the specific features of fostering a culture of health promotion among future preschool educators and to identify the potential of the course «Trends in the Development of Natural Science and Health Promotion Competencies» in developing the professional competencies of higher education students. The study found that the content of the course ensures the comprehensive development of a health-promoting culture among future preschool educators through the integration of natural science and health-promoting training. It was determined that the course structure facilitates the sequential development of the value-motivational, cognitive, activity-based, and reflective components of professional training. It was found that the logical structure of the course material facilitates the transition from mastering the theoretical foundations of health promotion to the practical application of modern health-promoting technologies, the creation of a safe educational environment, the organization of a healthy lifestyle for preschool-aged children, and the implementation of innovative pedagogical solutions. The practical value of this study lies in substantiating opportunities to improve the content of professional training for future preschool educators by integrating modern health-promoting technologies, interactive teaching methods, and practice-oriented forms of organizing the educational process. The findings can be used in the development of educational programs, academic disciplines, methodological guidelines, and professional development programs for educators.</jats:p>