Growing Friendships - Understanding and Supporting Young Children’s Social Development

October 21, 2026 | McDowell Early Learning

During a presentation hosted by pediatric psychologist Megan Barlow, Ph.D., attendees explored the nuances of young children's social development and the key components required to build and maintain healthy friendships. The discussion highlighted that childhood socialization naturally evolves from parallel play to cooperative play, noting that parents should not worry if younger children lack a "best friend" or details about their peers' lives. True friendship relies on proximity, frequency, and shared interests, and children succeed socially not based on being outgoing, but through their ability to "read the room," practice empathy, and maintain self-regulation. When navigating common social hurdles like exclusion, teasing, or conflict, parents are encouraged to act as supportive coaches rather than referees—using techniques like active repetition to gather information, normalizing conflicts as expected life events, and teaching children to regulate their emotions by maintaining perspective.

View presentation here:

https://assets.cdn.filesafe.space/VE8OoXVXS3aWxDXV40Lh/media/6aecba00fb31f444f250e22e.pdf