Peer group for toddlers: The importance of early social contacts

The term peer group refers to a "group of people of the same age" or "a group of equals." In the field of education, this term is often used to describe groups of children or young people who come together for specific reasons. These reasons can vary widely.

Often, a peer group forms due to similar age, interests, hobbies, background, or gender. Institutions such as kindergartens and schools are particularly conducive to the development of various peer groups.

The advantage of early peer groups

Looking more closely at the definition of peer groups, it becomes clear that a peer group can form very early on. Today, children are spending time with other children outside the family at an increasingly young age. They meet in playgroups with children their own age, then go to children's gymnastics classes, to the playground, to kindergarten, and to elementary school together. Along the way, peer groups naturally form through regular play with the same children.

This kind of play is especially valuable for young children. From the very beginning, they learn that the world doesn't revolve solely around them and that there are other children besides themselves. Through playing together in a peer group, they learn to be considerate, resolve conflicts, share, and assert themselves. The earlier they learn these skills in a group with their peers, the better they will be able to integrate into a community later on. Furthermore, the learning effect is much greater when they learn these things in a peer group than when parents try to teach the child, for example, how to share.

Learning from each other - from the very beginning

Children under two years of age tend to play alongside each other rather than with each other. This is perfectly normal and no cause for concern. Nevertheless, a peer group is very valuable even for children under two years old. Toddlers can learn a great deal from each other. Over time, the children decide on their own who they want to play with and who they would rather not play with. They form their peer group without the help of adults. In fact, it's already important for babies and toddlers to have plenty of contact with children their own age. Even in their first year of life, most babies show a great interest in other babies and children. They practice the first steps in social behavior, such as smiling, babbling, and touching. In the second year of life, imitative play is added. Children are especially important for this. Babies find it easier to learn from other children than from adults.

To the adult observer, it may not immediately seem as if babies and toddlers are interacting with each other. However, if you look more closely, you can see the beginnings of the first peer group. Examples of these early shared games include babbling together, imitating movements, or dancing together to music. Over time, the children in a peer group develop shared games, such as the popular role-playing game.

From about the age of three, a toddler's peer group expands from just one or two playmates to larger groups. Now, more complex games emerge, which often appear quite sophisticated even to the adult observer. At this stage, the peer group is usually formed not according to gender, but according to play preferences and age. Shortly before starting primary school, most children begin to divide into gender-specific peer groups. From the initial peer group, which was still open to other children, firm friendships now develop. Upon starting primary school, the peer group is reshuffled.

How can adults support the formation of a peer group?

For a child to successfully connect with a peer group, they first need a secure attachment to their parents. Only children who have developed trust in the world can separate from their parents to interact with their peers. If a child has an insecure attachment, meaning they are unsure whether they can rely on their parents, this often has negative effects on their social behavior. Children who grow up very isolated also usually have great difficulty connecting with a peer group. Therefore, parents should maintain as much contact with other children as possible. This could be through a playgroup or regular visits to a playground. Meeting up with friends who also have children is also beneficial. This allows the child to experience interacting with other children their age from an early age.