Introduction. The article substantiates the urgency of the problem of the development of cognitive activity in children as one of the important educational and upbringing tasks in the field of psychological and pedagogical activity. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the possibilities of using sand therapy means in the development of cognitive activity in preschool children.

Materials and methods. The main research methods are theoretical analysis of scientific literature on the problem of the development of cognitive abilities in childhood, as well as empirical methods: observation, experiment, conversation, questionnaires, psychodiagnostic techniques.

Results. A complex of integrated lessons has been developed for the development of cognitive activity in preschool children by means of sand therapy, including both educational fairy tale games, games for the development of memory, speech, phonemic hearing, sound pronunciation correction, the development of fine motor skills, and cognitive lessons on the formation of elementary mathematical concepts, the surrounding world, geography, ecology. The basic principles of the implementation of sand therapy as an innovative technology in the process of joint activities of a teacher-psychologist with children are revealed.

Discussion. The necessity of using sand therapy as an innovative technology not only in the development of the cognitive functions of children, but also in the full disclosure of the characteristics of the child's psyche is substantiated.

Conclusion. It is concluded that the joint group activity of children with an adult (teacher-psychologist) based on the use of innovative sand technology contributes to the expansion of cognitive activity and motivation, the disclosure of creative abilities, the formation of a creative orientation in a developing personality, the development of children's cognitive activity filled with personal meaning.

Revealed the advantages of innovative sand technology in the development of cognitive activity in preschool children.

Disclosed the principles of organizing the sand technology procedure in the process of joint activities of a teacher-psychologist with children.

A special complex of integrated lessons has been developed with the aim of developing cognitive activity, including cognitive abilities, in preschool children by means of sand therapy, including both educational fairy tale games, games for the development of memory, speech, phonemic hearing, correction of sound pronunciation, development of fine motor skills, and cognitive classes in different areas of knowledge: mathematical training, the world around, geography, ecology;

Presents a comparative analysis of the results of the experimental study.