Friendships for Young Kids

Everyone needs friends. Humans are social beings, and young children are no different. During the first few months of life, all a child needs is a friendly, recognizable face. But, it's not long before your little one needs more than just mom and dad for healthy development. From the moment we are born, we are programmed to seek and respond to other people. Young children have plenty of opportunity to socialize with adult family members, siblings, cousins, neighbors, family friends, and play groups. Further socialization takes place at daycare, preschool, and kindergarten.

Making Friends

During the socialization process, your child is bound to make a few friends… and enemies. Kids learn who they are by comparing themselves to others. They also learn the important skills of give and take, how to manage conflict, and independence through friendship with children their own age. Kids are exposed to so much during their interactions with other children. They are exposed to diversity, different ideas, different ways of doing things, and different personalities. Learning these things is crucial to each child's development.

The Benefits of Friendships

Children who have friends tend to be happier than children who are, or feel, isolated. Friendships help children establish self-esteem, social relationships, and a sense of well being. Isolated children may have low self-esteem, trouble adjusting to new situations, and social problems. A child who doesn't have at least one friendship may become depressed, which can lead to other problems, especially as he ages.

Toddler Friendships

Most children make friends relatively easily. Studies indicate that more than 75% of children in daycare establish at least one friendship with another child their age. Toddler friendships are all about sharing. Toddler friends are happy working on a project, enacting roles, and solving problems together. At this age, friends are amazing teachers. Young children work together instinctively to develop socialization and negotiation skills. By the late toddler years, children generally show distinct preferences for friends.

School-Age Friendships

By the time children reach school age, they have usually learned to establish some level of friendship with other children. At this age, friendships tend to be more intricate, with kids sharing secrets and excluding adults from activities more and more often. School-age children may also be more open to group friendships and may tend to socialize with other children they consider more like them. Friends are important. Although most of the friendships your child establishes at this age will burn out long before he reaches adulthood, the social lessons he learns will follow him the rest of his life.