Early Friendships: Does a Friend’s Presence in Daycare Promote Toddlers’ Prosocial Behavior Toward Peers?

Toddlers (N=38) were video-observed in the presence and absence of a verified friend during morning-separation and lunchtime in daycare (152 video-observations). Higher levels of positive social-engagement, fewer agonistic behaviors and occurrences of distress were observed in the friend’s presence. Morning-separation duration decreased by half and toddlers contacted the caregiver less.