Final answer:
Friendships significantly influence the development of trust and sensitivity in children during middle childhood. Peer groups also play a crucial role in socialization, teaching them social norms and fostering independence. Formal group membership enhances their experiences and helps them learn cooperation and adherence to collective goals.
Step-by-step explanation:
In middle childhood, friendships contribute significantly to the development of trust and sensitivity among children. During this developmental stage, children generally transition from playing with same-gender friends to engaging in mixed-gender group activities. The formation of friendships is crucial as it provides an arena for children to practice social skills such as cooperation, sharing, and managing feelings like jealousy.
Through participation in peer groups, children teach and learn social norms, such as taking turns and following rules, which are essential aspects of socialization. As they grow, these peer interactions become more significant, allowing children to establish an identity separate from their family, which fosters independence. Moreover, these social interactions typically involve different activities than those with family, offering diverse experiences that shape children's social skills further.
While friendships and informal peer activities play a dominant role, formal group membership, like being part of a sports team or a scouts group, also contributes to socialization. Such formal groups provide structured environments where children learn to work together and abide by a set of collective norms and goals, which is also integral to their social development.