Early Atlas

Skill

Makes Friends With Peers

Child joins and sustains friendly play and conversation with other children.

Ages 36–60 months

relationships friendship peer-interaction joining-play preschool

Why it matters

Building and keeping peer relationships — entering play, taking turns in conversation, forming early friendships — is how preschoolers practice cooperation, negotiation, and belonging within a group.

Builds toward this milestone

  • engages in and maintains positive interactions and relationships with other children. — Head Start ELOF

Explore milestones →

What mastery looks like

  • Uses a strategy to enter play, such as suggesting an idea, joining an activity, or offering a toy.
  • Sustains positive interactions and back-and-forth conversation with peers for increasing periods.
  • Shows preference for and begins to form friendships with one or two particular children.

How to observe it

  • When a child wants to join others, do they use a friendly strategy to get in?
  • Can the child keep a play interaction going and take turns talking?
  • Does the child seek out particular friends to play with?

Accessibility

  • Coach entry phrases and offer a buddy or smaller group for children who find big groups overwhelming.
  • Use picture or AAC supports so non-speaking children can offer ideas and join play.

Activities

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Evidence

Early Atlas