Study links early friendships with high-quality sibling relationships

Children who experience a rewarding friendship before the birth of the sibling are likely to have a better relationship with that brother or sister that endures throught their childhood, said Laurie Kramer in a University of Illinions study published in December's Journal of Family Psychology

'When early friendships are successful, young children get the chance to master sophisticated social and emotional skills, even more than thay do with a parent. When parents relate to child, they do a lot of the work, figuring out what the child needs and then accommodating those needs' says Kramer. However, this is not usually the case when two childer are interacting.

The research showed that the benefits of early friends are long-lasting. Children who had a positive relationship with a best friend before of a sibling ultimately had a good relationship with their sibling that lasted throughtout adolescence, Kramer said. And children who as preschoolers were able to coordinate play with a friend, manage conflicts, and keep an interaction positive in tone were most likely as teenagers to avoid the negative sibling interaction that can sometimes launch children on the path of anti-social behaviour, she added. 'From birth, parents can nurture and help develop these social competencies by making eye contact with their babies, offering toys and playing with them', she said.