Peculiarities of Preschool Age Children’s Formation of National Identity in Emigration

The article discusses the importance of fostering national identity in preschoolers living abroad and difficulties related to it, also, there is disclosed national identity’s expression of Lithuanian children living in foreign countries. Moreover, the article seeks to substantiate the problem of national identity formation in emigration with reference to research carried out abroad. The aim of this research is to expose the peculiarities of preschool children’s formation of national identity in emigration. The objectives of the research are the following: to ascertain ethnic consciousness of emigrants’ preschool age children; to explore aspects of identification with Lithuanians nation; to learn about the attitude of the parents growing up preschool age children towards Lithuanian identity’s nurturance in emigration. In 2010 there was carried out research which proved that children and their parents quite positively think about possibilities of ethnic identity formation in emigration. The research carried out in 2012 highlighted pretty skeptic attitude of emigrant parents towards Lithuania and Lithuanian identity considering the formation of their children’s ethnic identity. Keywords: national identity, identity, preschool, emigration, formation.