The role of physical education in the formation of children's personality is often underestimated. In this context, an attempt to examine current levels of performance and features of the relationship of the physical and mental development of preschool children was made. The study involved 50 children of 5-6 years old attending MBDOU №14 «Berezka» in Khanty-Mansiysk. Methods of analysis of scientific and methodical literature, pedagogical and psychological testing, methods of mathematical statistics were used in the research. Analysis of the current levels of development of physical qualities showed that only the power of legs in the test «broad jump from a place» demonstrates a sufficient level of development (the total share of the results of levels «above average» and «high» was - 60.7%). Average level is recorded in throwing balls at a distance with a right hand - 31.4%, in a position of bending forward with a measurement of depth - 56.8%, in running on the 300 m distance - 35.3%. A number of indicators showed superiority in the low and below average. So, in throwing the ball at a distance the total index measure of these low and below average levels amounted to 78.4%, in the rise in the trunk in 30 seconds exercise - 70.6%, in the women's 300 meters was - 53%, in running on the 30 m distance - 64, 7%. According to the results of mental development studies, the rate of an average level falls within the range from 25% to 50%, i.e. in terms of statistics it is the norm. If 30% falls into the mid-level range, it should be equally as in the direction of high-level and upper-middle and towards the low and lower-middle. However, in this case the preponderance of levels «low» and «below average» reveals, where the total index of spatial visualization ability by the conventional method amounted to - 58%, the rate of verbal and logical thinking by the conventional method amounted to - 46%, the rate of visual-figurative thinking on the modified procedure was - 57%, the rate of verbal and logical thinking using a modified procedure was - 47%. To determine the relationship, intellectual development indicators were compared with the results of the implementation of children motor tests. A reliable correlation was found between the index of the left hand muscle strength and spatial visualization ability (rs = 0,394). Also, a large spread of the correlation coefficient, which is located primarily in the redistribution of from 0.03 to 0.394 was discovered. An analysis of the relationship of the physical and mental development with the theoretically informed interaction demonstrates the absence of such links on a practical level. The solution to this problem, as our empirical experience shows, is in the systematic inclusion of exercises and motor tasks of sports and the game character with an emphasis on thinking processes in the practice of physical education of preschool children.