Friendships
Relationships with peers can be a bit rocky this year. Because play begins to be focused on creating rules, conflict is part of the game. Concepts of fairness at six are rudimentary and may not be agreed on by a play group. One or two children, usually older ones, will take on the rule-setting and others in the group are expected to follow them. You can see the potential for conflict here, especially when you have lots of assertive children who all want to be the rule-setters. Adults should keep an eye on play groups, letting them work it out when possible, but stepping in to be the rule-setter if the conflict escalates or bullying is present.
Children's friendships at six tend to be among the children in their immediate social environment in the classroom or in the neighborhood. There is a beginning awareness that their friends have lives outside of playtime, but for the most part other children are friends because of the activities they do together and that's the end of it. Aggressive children are often avoided and shy children are ignored. Adult supervision definitely is needed to help all the children in a group feel included and important in the social environment.
First > The Six-Year Old - Routines
Child Development - The Six-Year Old
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At School
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