ABSTRACT
I move on to discussion of the microsystems that involve the child primarily with other children ± siblings, friends and other peers. The child's experience of such microsystems is affected by the child's own characteristics, and the child's characteristics are affected by his or her experience of other children. The interests and activities of such child±child microsystems both resemble and differ from those involving child and parents. Microsystems between children will affect and be affected by other microsystems ± for example interaction and relationships with siblings are affected by, and affect, interaction with parents, and peer interaction relationships in school are in tension with relationships with teachers. I have not found much research on the child±sibling relationship involving exosystem or macrosystem levels, although these levels may be visible at the margins of my discussion of children's relationships with peers outside the family. I will talk about siblings ®rst, and then peers.
