ABSTRACT
In their pursuit of social independence from their parents and families, it is friends with whom children attempt to develop their first community relationships. This chapter explains the significance of young children having friends and examines how young children make friends and what influences the formation of friendships. It identifies the social competence required to keep friends and suggests the need to adopt a socially attuned pedagogical approach providing spaces for children's friendship communities to flourish. In young children's relationship worlds there is a fair amount of uncertainty and unpredictability due to their evolving social competence and capabilities. It concludes with reiterating that experiencing friendships 'involves the wholeness of human existence' and that they are significant in children's lives. Therefore, children deserve the attention of caring adults who adopt a socially attuned and respectful approach that Carter and Nutbrown call 'the pedagogy of friendship'. Playfulness encourages inclusion and the sharing of pleasurable, fun experiences fosters a climate for establishing friendships.
