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What role do peers play in shaping a child's relationships with others?

Dickie Songhurst

Peers play a huge role in shaping a child's relationships with others. Since friends and acquaintances are the children's primary source of social interaction outside of the family, they are bound to have a significant impact on the way they perceive themselves, others, and the world around them.

In the early years of life, children are highly influenced by their peers when it comes to acquiring new behaviors and social skills. As children interact with their friends, they observe, imitate, and learn from their actions. For instance, when a child sees his friend picking up a ball, he is likely to pick it up as well, even though he might have ignored it before. Such subtle but frequent interactions can help children develop social skills like taking turns, sharing, cooperating, and communicating effectively.

As children grow older, they become more conscious of their own identity and become more selective in choosing their friends. During this period, peers can have both positive and negative impacts on their social and emotional development. For instance, a child who is friends with someone who has high self-esteem is more likely to develop a positive self-concept and high self-worth. On the other hand, a child who is friends with someone who has low self-esteem may develop a negative self-concept and doubts about their own worth.

Peers can also influence a child's attitude towards relationships with a romantic or sexual aspect. Teenagers who have friends who are sexually active are more likely to engage in sexual activity themselves. Similarly, teenagers who have friends that drink or smoke are at higher risk of adopting these behaviors as well.

In addition to the direct impact on self-concept and behaviors, peers can also indirectly shape a child's relationships with others. By providing children with social support, companionship, and guidance, peers can help children build positive relationships with their peers, parents, teachers, and others. By offering feedback and constructive criticism, peers can help children learn how to resolve conflicts, communicate effectively, and develop empathy.

However, sometimes peers can have negative effects on children's relationships as well. When children are exposed to bullying, ostracism, or other forms of negative behavior from their peers, their mental health and social well-being can be seriously affected. Such experiences can lead to feelings of insecurity, anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal.

In conclusion, peers play a significant role in shaping a child's relationships with others. While positive interactions with peers can help children develop social skills, self-concepts, and positive relationships, negative interactions can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, it is essential for parents, teachers, and caregivers to monitor children's peer interactions, promote positive peer relationships, and intervene when necessary to prevent negative impacts.