Final answer:
Children start to develop real friendships during the preschool age, expanding from three to five years old. This stage signifies significant advancements in emotional and social development, leading to stronger interpersonal connections with peers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children begin to develop real friendships during preschool age, which encompasses the years from three to five. During this time, their cognitive and psychosocial development rapidly progress. They go from just beginning to walk and talk at age one, to riding bikes and using up to 1,500 words by age five. While one-year-olds still cling to their parents, preschoolers enjoy running off to play with their friends, indicating the budding of actual friendships.
By middle childhood, spanning from six to ten years old, these friendships become more nuanced. Children enjoy participating in group activities, like sports teams or scouts, and playing with mixed-gender groups. They are learning to cooperate, share, and sometimes experience jealousy, showing deeper emotional connections with peers compared to earlier years.