Navigation
Discussing social development and how our relationships change over time.
Think back to when you were three years old—did you care about the same things you do now? Why does playing with a friend today feel so much more exciting than playing by yourself?
Social development is the process of learning how to interact, communicate, and build relationships with the people around us. Just like your body grows taller, your 'social brain' grows smarter! When you were a toddler, you might have played near other kids without really talking to them. Now that you are in 5th grade, you are learning how to share feelings, solve arguments, and understand how others feel. This is a lifelong journey of learning how to be a helpful and happy part of a community.
Quick Check
In your own words, what does social development help us do?
Answer
It helps us learn how to interact with others and build healthy relationships as we grow.
Let's look at the difference in play styles: 1. If you sit at your desk and draw a dragon by yourself, that is solitary play. 2. If you and three classmates decide to draw a giant map of a fantasy world on one big piece of paper, that is cooperative play because you must share the markers and agree on where the mountains go.
Quick Check
If you are playing a board game with your family, is that solitary or cooperative play?
Answer
Cooperative play (or group play).
What makes a 'best friend'? It isn't just about who has the coolest toys. It is about qualities. A good friend shows empathy, which means they try to understand how you feel. They also show trustworthiness—you can count on them to keep a secret or stand up for you. As we grow up, our friendships change from being about 'who is standing near me' to 'who treats me with kindness and respect.'
Imagine your friend Sam loses a soccer game and feels very sad. 1. You notice Sam's face looks upset and his shoulders are slumped (Empathy). 2. You walk over and say, 'You played a great game, do you want to go get some water?' 3. By supporting Sam, you are using your social development skills to strengthen your friendship.
You and your friend both want to be the 'leader' for a science project. 1. Instead of getting angry, you suggest a compromise: 'I will lead the research, and you can lead the poster design.' 2. This uses negotiation, a high-level social skill, to ensure the project gets done while keeping the friendship healthy.
What is the term for learning how to interact and get along with others?
Which of these is an example of cooperative play?
Empathy means you try to understand and share the feelings of another person.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to remember the two main types of play we discussed and the three qualities of a good friend.
Practice Activity
During recess or lunch tomorrow, observe a group of people playing. Are they using cooperative play? Can you spot someone showing empathy?