How Do 2- to 3- year-olds Interact with Each Other While Playing?:

Longitudinal Observation Focusing on Goal Sharing

Abstract

In this study, we observed 2- to 3- year-olds while playing in a nursery school over a 6-month period and investigated how they interact with each other focusing on goal sharing. We found that reciprocal imitation was observed throughout the 6-month period. In reciprocal imitation, children can feel sameness and contact each other by behaving similarly to their peers without paying attention to the shared goal. In the latter 3 months, the children collaborated to achieve the shared goal by making verbal interaction in make-believe play and joint construction. These results clarified peer relationships, agreement, and self-development.