Interindividual relationships in groups of young children and susceptibility to an environmental constraint

It was investigated whether the behavioral reactions of young children to m odifications of the playroom arrangement were modulated as a function of th eir relationships with peers. Interpersonal relationships between 21-month- old and 36-month-old children were observed in three groups. Hierarchical c luster analysis led to seven types of dyadic relationships among peers. In each group, the arrangement of the furniture was modified to compare visual ly open to visually restricted playroom arrangements. The type of arrangeme nt did not change the joint use of play areas and the social interactions f or the peers whose relationships were weak. In contrast, for children showi ng an emerging relationship, the playroom arrangement affected the quantity and the quality of their social interactions. The presence of major visual obstacles also markedly hindered their joint use of adult-distant areas, e xcept for some children showing a particularly tight relationship. Results are discussed with regard to the development of relationships among young c hildren.