Abstract. The purpose of physical education of children with mental retardation is to strengthen their health, develop proper physical development and movement skills. Systematic educational process creates favorable conditions for children's harmonious development. Mentally retarded children have somatic weakness compared to their peers, lagging behind in physical development, posture and movement defects. Special tasks aimed at eliminating movement defects and lagging behind physical development of mentally retarded children determine the specific characteristics of physical education of these children. This article presents the opinions of foreign psychologists about the changes in the psyche of children who are behind in their development, their intelligence, psychological processes and imagination.