When children are young, they generally play with the children around them rather than choosing a “best” friend. However, Toddlers and Preschoolers, like adults, vary in their sociability, some are naturally more social than others. Through early friendships, children develop the tools they will use in future social development, such as:
Communication: Children learn to communicate at a young age. They communicate by using gestures, sounds or words.
Empathy: As children develop relationships, they learn when others are happy or sad and even when their friends need a little bit of comfort.
Sharing: Through both associative and parallel play, children begin to learn how to share and take turns.
Team work: As relationships develop children begin to combine their sharing and communication skills and begin working together in their daily activities such as art.
Jennifer and Kirsten