Peer Relationships And Play in Early Childhood

Robert Fettgather has served as Special Consultant in psychometrics to the Departments of Education and Developmental Disabilities for the State of California. Robert Fettgather also holds a specialist credential in learning handicapped and community college credentials in both learning and developmental disabilities. In his spare time, Robert Fettgather continues to play on waterways and hiking trails.

Preschoolers participate in various kinds of play that are related to the development of social skills. According to Parten, play develops in stages: Solitary and Onlooker Play,  Parallel Play, and  Associative Play. Children who are unskilled at the social skill of "group entry" are often rejected by their peers. Physical aggression toward peers increases and then declines during these years, whereas verbal aggression increases among older preschoolers. Some children develop a pattern of aggression that creates problems for them throughout childhood and adolescence

When 2- or 3-year-old children are upset or frustrated, they are most likely to throw things or strike out. As their language skills improve, however, they shift away from such overt physical aggression and move toward greater use of verbally aggressive interactions.

Reflection Point: How can adults help children deal with their frustration without using punishment?

Children display prosocial behavior as young as age 2, and the behavior seems to grow as the child’s ability to take another’s perspective increases. Parents and teachers can encourage the development of altruistic behavior categorical self, and the emotional self. Stable friendships develop between children in this age range. Beginning at about age 18 months, toddlers show early hints of playmate preferences or individual friendships. By age 3, however, about 20% of children have a regular playmate. By age 4, more than half spend 30% (or even more) of their time with one other child. Therefore, we should note that an important change in social behavior during early childhood is the development of stable relationships.