Final answer:
Older children tend to select best friends as they grow and their friendships gain significance, with parental relationships and social media playing influential roles in this process.
Step-by-step explanation:
It's common for older children to choose best friends as they develop deeper connections with peers who share similar interests and values. As they move from playing with same-gender friends to mixed-gender groups between the ages of six to ten, friendships become increasingly important, signaling the start of selecting best friends. This selection can be influenced by various factors including parental influence, social media, and the child's own personal experiences. When adolescents make decisions, they tend to weigh the opinions of their parents and peer groups differently depending on the situation. For example, while an eight-year-old son who loves baseball may turn to his peers for validation of his sports interests, he might also listen to his parents regarding academic responsibilities if they maintain a warm and healthy relationship. As such, close parent-child relationships can steer children towards positive outcomes even when peer influence is strong. With the advent of social media, the landscape of peer influence has dramatically expanded. No longer are peer groups limited to the neighborhood or school; they can now be formed online with individuals from all over the world. This has amplified the ability of children to choose their best friends based on common interests rather than mere proximity, further contributing to the importance of best friendships during youth.