Drawing on evidence from studies on both sides of the Atlantic, this beautifully written book from Judy Dunn, the leading international authority on childhood development, considers the nature and significance of children's early friendships.

Foreword viJerome S. Bruner  List of figures viii Acknowledgements ix 1. Friends matter 1 2. Beginnings 12 3. Friends within a social world: the early years 34 4. Differences in children’s friendships: links with social understanding 48 5. With a little help from my friends 69 6. Intrigues, bullying, rejection and loneliness 82 7. Girls, boys and friendship 99 8. Parents and Friends 119 9. Siblings and Friends 142 10 Implications 155 Appendix: How can parents help children over friendship difficulties? 161 Notes 165 References 179 Name index 199 Subject Index 201

Judy Dunn, a leading international authority on childhood development, provides a beautifully written account of children’s early friendships. Drawing on evidence from studies on both sides of the Atlantic, it considers the nature and significance of such relationships for children’s development and well-being. The book concludes by drawing out the practical implications of research for parents, teachers and those who care for children, including how to manage friendships at different developmental stages, how to help children with friendship difficulties, and what to do about ‘trouble-making’ friendships and bullying.

"Judy Dunn has the happy knack of helping us to look afresh at the children we thought we knew - including our own. Her new book shows that in the context of friendship, children have an opportunity - from kindergarten upward - to go on imaginary adventures, to engage in give-and-take and, eventually, to learn about commitment in ways that the immediate family can rarely match. We glimpse children at their best in this delightful book - and sympathize all the more with those children who want to make friends but have none." Paul Harris, Harvard Graduate School of Education "This magical new book by Judy Dunn explores the development of friendships in young children. She draws on close observation of toddlers, pre-schoolers and school children to demonstrate the role of intimate friendships in encouraging children to share ideas, coordinate pretend play and express affection for those that are not kin. This book will inform the practice of professionals who care for young children and intrigue parents – who will see immediately how the friendships of their own children are the spur to imagining what’s in the mind and heart of another." Kathy Sylva, Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Oxford "Judy Dunn, one of our most astute chroniclers of children's social lives, provides a fascinating glimpse into the often neglected world of children's friendships. Using real-life illustrations from her own studies as well as rich insights from novelists and biographers, she convincingly shows the important place of friends in children's development. Parents as well as professionals will learn much from this timely and readable volume." Ross D. Parke, Director, Center for Family Studies, University of California Riverside "Children's Friendships is a beautifully written account of children's early friendships by Judy Dunn, the leading international authority on childhood development." Primary Times, 29th Nov - 7th Feb 2005 "The excitement, the pleasures, problems and humour, the compelling intensity of these relationships with friends (and enemies) in writers' early lives and their fiction are interwoven in Children's Friendships with the present-day examples from the children in Dunn's research and that of others." SirReadaLot.org, January Issue.