ABSTRACT
Families have traditionally been viewed as the major socialization agency for the development of children’s social behavior, but our definition of family has undergone considerable revision in the last three decades. First, our view of the mother-child dyad as the central unit has been replaced by a view of the family as a social system in which fathers, siblings, and the marital relationship are all important in children’s socialization. Second, it is increasingly recognized that social development is best understood as a contextual process in which extended families, adult mentors, children’s peers, and friends play a role as well. There is no doubt that children’s relationships with their peers play a significant role in children’s later adjustment. Early problems with peers have been linked to elevated feelings of loneliness and depression in childhood (Asher, Parkhurst, Hymel, & Williams, 1990; Boivin, Poulin, & Vitaro, 1994) as well as higher rates of school dropout, delinquency, and adult criminality (Parker & Asher, 1987). The aim of this chapter is to articulate the links between families, especially fathers, and children’s relationships with peers.
