Do Children Require a Best Friend?

Childhood friendships are a beloved element of many people's lives. The children in these partnerships spend a lot of time together and form very tight friendships. They give a continuous social outlet, assist in the development of social skills, and provide a source of support that many children value.

These children frequently have other pals with whom they like spending with. Many children have a best friend (or several), but some do not. Parents may be perplexed as to the significance of having or not having a BFF (best friends forever). For example, you may be concerned that your child is overly focused on one friend, limiting their social circle.

You could also be concerned about how to help your child if these friendships break down.

We'll look at the importance of best friend relationships, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of having a BFF and other sorts of friendships. We'll look at ways to establish friendship skills in children of various ages and sorts, as well as what parents can do to help their children develop friendship skills.

What Is the Definition of a Best Friend?

A best friend, or a group of closest pals, is something that many children have. Other children have a group of friends, but they do not designate one or more of them as their "best buddies." One or more of those children, on the other hand, may end up spending the most time with your child, effectively becoming a de facto best buddy.

These partnerships might last for years or just a few months. Some children have a succession of best friends throughout their youth, while others may have the same one throughout their lives. Then there are youngsters that have a small or large group of pals and don't really prefer one over the other. Others may not have many close friends and/or prefer to play alone.

Best friendships often form organically or for practical reasons, especially when children with similar interests or backgrounds live close together. Kids who spend large amounts of time together, such as in class, on the same sports team, in the same club or activity, or living across the street from each other, are more likely to build these bonds.

Alternatively, children can meet online or in-person and simply click. If the parents of the children are good friends, they may become best friends simply because they spend so much time together. Children with similar traits, personalities, or hobbies are frequently pulled together, but children who are very different from one another or who appear to have nothing in common can also become great friends.

Friendships between children are important.

Childhood friendships are important because they give children companionship, support, peer social contact, and the opportunity to discover who they are outside of their family. Renata Klabacha, MA, LMFT, a certified marital and family therapist in Chicago, Illinois, states, "Friendships are a crucial aspect of growth throughout the lifespan."

Self-Worth

According to studies, having a large group of friends makes children feel better about themselves. Having a reciprocating best friendship boosts self-esteem and makes students feel good about their school and classmates.

Important Social Skills

Friendships help children develop skills such as problem-solving, conflict resolution, the ability to compromise, listening skills, resourcefulness, emotion regulation, independence, identity formation, and creating a sense of belonging or community during childhood and adolescence, according to Klabacha.

In fact, studies suggest that having strong childhood friendships is linked to feelings of belonging, happiness, and the development of good prosocial abilities. Having at least one excellent buddy as a child has also been connected to having better mental health as an adult.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a term that refers to the ability

Emotional intelligence (the ability to regulate emotions and be socially appropriate) has been found to be more predictive of adult achievement than IQ score, according to Whitehead. "When youngsters have positive peer relationships, their emotion management abilities, conflict resolution skills, and problem-solving skills are likely to improve," he says.

When children's negative peer connections grow (due to harmful influences or bullying), it's often because they're being socially ostracized or shunned by their good peers. "This could lead to more bad externalized behaviors," Whitehead warns.

On an equal footing

Peer connections also allow children to experience a relationship on an equal level, according to James Youniss, Ph.D., a psychology professor at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

This is not the same dynamic as that which exists within a family, where parents are the authoritative figures. "Friendship is an essential relationship that is unique from parent-child interactions," Youniss explains. Peers, he claims, live in a reciprocal society where each youngster has equal authority and autonomy.

"Observe young children playing games in which they create the rules together. A friendship develops as a result of this reciprocity, in which a group of people agrees to get along and help one another "Youniss agrees.