Peer Relationships

Peer relationships are important for social-emotional development (SED) in children. As children grow and develop, time spent outside of the home and with peers increases. The abilities to make and maintain peer relationships or navigate group dynamics requires personal and interpersonal skills. Personal skills such as emotional regulational or impulse control. Interpersonal skills such as perspective taking, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. 

 

Peer relationships are within the child’s microsystem. As proposed by Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological system, children grow and develop through multiple environments, contexts, and relationships. The microsystem is the first and closest system to the child and may directly influence them. Children may interact with peers within daycare facilities, school, neighborhoods, or community settings. Interactions with peers are unique because children are with their relative equals. Other relationships surrounding the child are with parents, teachers, or authority figures. With peers, there are opportunities to experience conflict, to learn how to get along with others, and how to ask and offer help. 

 

Relationships with peers can be an indicator of children’s health and well-being and may offer long-term benefits. Lower peer aggression in childhood may predict higher occupational status in adulthood. It may also predict educational attainment, employment stability, and mental health. Promoting and fostering positive peer relationships provides children with the opportunity to develop and hone social-emotional skills and competencies. This is highly beneficial for children to thrive in school and in other relationships in adulthood.