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During the early childhood years,
children show interest in each other and enjoy playing near one
another. Parents claim that one of the reasons they send their children
to nursery school is that "they need playmates." Generally,
two-year-olds merely watch others, and although they occasionally
cooperate, for the most part they carry on parallel play -- that is,
they engage in the same activity as another child, but in a solitary
fashion. They get satisfaction in just being near each other.
Although two-year-olds are not gentle with each other, they really do
not wish to hurt their age mates. Actually, they desire to learn more
about their characteristics. (“How do they sound when they talk?" "Will
they cry if I pull their hair?”) Because a two-year-old-is still clumsy
and egocentric, he may unintentionally walk into the play construction
of a neighbor and upset him. This egocentric behavior is due to the
fact that children at this age cannot recognize people and things as
"others" or outside of themselves. With more experience, more
encounters, and more language ability, three-year-olds learn how to
play social games together, talk about what they are building with
their blocks, or why they are putting their dolls to bed. Soon they are
able to recruit a “mother” and a “baby” to play out a scenario that is
in their minds. Groups of two and three children playing together are
typical of three- to six-year-olds.
During the beginning period of group play, younger children move in and
out of the group without changing the theme of the play. However, as
they reach four to six years, the play group is more stable, and its
size may expand to five or six children. Fighting over toys decreases
as children learn to take turns. Give and take is practiced. Leadership
is shared, but usually the child who has good play ideas and knows how
to get things going is the leader. Friendships are formed. Although
quarrelling, aggression, and hostility may grow, this behavior is due
to the fact that the social games become more complex. Most children
learn how to settle their quarrels by themselves.
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