Children in the second, fifth, and eighth grades rated the importance and extent of companionship and intimate disclosure experiences in social life in general and in each of eight types of relationships. (PCB)

The study examined household and child care responsibilities, peer contacts, and out-of-home activities of older same-sex siblings of mentally retarded children compared to matched children without handicapped siblings. Findings indicated that older sisters tended to assume multiple caretaking responsibilities with decreased opportunities for peer…

The investigation of developmental integration among preschool children included a descriptive study of social proximity and social integration in a university-based model program, a replication of the methods and analyses in seven community sites, and a comparative analysis of the findings. Observations of geographic proximity and social…

Examines influences of peer relations on the development of social and cognitive competence. Discusses implications of differences in boys' and girls' play styles for cognitive skills and the development of intimacy. Notes that gender segregation is initiated and maintained within the peer group. (BAC)

Relationship dissolution is generally examined within the context of romantic involvement but rarely from the standpoint of friendship. To examine patterns of friendship dissolution in young adults, retrospective accounts of recently terminated or deteriorated same-sex friendships and changes in friendship networks over the last 5 years were…

Literature on physical competence and peer relations is reviewed. It is concluded that physically competent children acquire more status and enjoy greater social success than do physically inept children. It is suggested that physical education can be used as an intervention strategy to enhance peer status. (Author/MT)

Compares number of classmates' photographs named by boys and girls on four different occasions in two kindergarten classrooms. Patterns of name learning were compared to examine sex differences in the speed and extent to which classmates' names are learned as well as differential selectivity in the sex of peer relationships. (Author/DST)

Introduces this theme issue by synthesizing findings obtained using diverse methodologies derived from different theories about children's friendships. Comments on the trend away from studying global peer acceptance to studying friendship dyads. Discusses the features--individual, age, and gender differences--of children's friendships. (DR)

Second graders were more competitive than first graders, thus suggesting that maturational factors as well as school experience may result in greater competition among children. (Authors)

Female relationships are described as more intense, demonstrative, exclusive, and nurturant than male. Male relationships are more likely to be based on enjoyable companionship and similarity in attitudes. The relationship is important enough to development that lack of a close friend should be viewed as a deficit. (Author)

Explores the contribution of participant observation as a research method to the study of childhood. Discusses how participant observation permits a more comprehensive understanding of the process of friendship making than traditional sociometric techniques, and shows that, for the researcher, remembered experiences of participation and…

Explored the simultaneous sequential transition patterns of preschoolers' social play within classroom settings. Found that the proportion of social-play states did not vary during play episodes even when accounting for type of activity center, gender, and SES. Found a reciprocal relationship between parallel-aware and other social-play states…

Examines the influence of prenatal sex hormones on later behavior and social learning that results from differential treatment of boys and girls by parents and peers. Also explores differences in academic achievement between boys and girls. Concludes that, contrary to the views of some parents and teachers in the 1970s and 1980s, inborn gender…

Observed 18- to 30-month-olds' use of force against peers. Found no sex differences in average aggression levels or in mothers' aggression ratings. Rate of hitting peers and mothers' ratings were stable over 6 months for girls only. Toddlers especially sensitive to peers' possible intentions hit peers more and were more likely than to use force…