ABSTRACT
Most studies show that boys and girls have a similar number of friends (Baines & Blatchford, 2009). However, boys may have larger social networks compared to girls due to the structural differences in boys’ play versus girls’ play described in the previous chapter. Girls are more likely to interact in dyads and to spend time talking to one another, whereas boys are more likely to spend time in large groups that are focused on some activity. In an observational study of play among 7-and 8-year-olds, boys’ social networks (defined as children who were seen frequently playing together) were nearly twice the size of that of girls’, largely because boys were more likely than girls to be playing team games (Baines & Blatchford, 2009). In addition, girls’ primary social network consisted of friends, whereas boys’ primary social network consisted of both friends and non-friends. This difference may contribute to the greater intimacy that characterizes girls’ friendships discussed later in this chapter.
