Strategies of social approach by 2 to 6 years old children

Abstract

This study investigates the strategies of peer approach used by 2-6 years old children during free play. 108 episodes of social approach were selected from 40 video-recorded observation sessions. The strategies of approach were categorized, and were analysed in relation to: sex and age of the child, his/her degree of familiarity with the partners, social composition and spatial configuration of the approached group, activities in which the approached group was engaged, relationship between the members of the group, and outcome of the episode. The children approached preferably same-sexed groups. The results pointed out the role of visual orientation, which appears to enable the child to collect information about the approached, and to adjust his/her actions to the activity in which group is engaged. Positive outcomes were correlated with the degree of familiarity with the partners; with the occurrence of mediation by an adult or by an object; and with the adjustment between the child's action and the activity of the approached group. Some directions for future research are suggested.