Imitation During Preschool Peer Interaction

Abstract

Two to four-year-old preschool children's peer interactions were observed during free play. Positive, negative, and sustained peer interactions were coded as were the initiating behaviors of these interactions including imitation. A curvilinear relationship between age and imitation was noted with the three-year-olds engaging in the greatest amount of imitation. The use of imitation as an initiator of interaction also contributed to the greatest amount of variance on sustained interactions.