At what stage do children typically exhibit significant growth in social interaction skills?

The preschool years are a critical period for the development of social interaction skills in children. During this stage, which typically spans ages 3 to 5, children begin to engage more actively with their peers and caregivers. They start to understand concepts like sharing, cooperation, and turn-taking, which are fundamental to social interactions.

In preschool settings, children are often placed in group activities, which provide them the opportunity to practice and develop their communication skills, empathy, and the ability to navigate social dynamics. This is when they shift from more parallel play, where they play alongside but not with each other, to engaging in more cooperative play.

While social skills start to emerge in infancy through interactions with caregivers, and continue to develop in early elementary years as children refine these skills, the preschool years represent a significant and noticeable burst of growth in these areas. Pre-adolescence does involve further social development, but the foundational skills are primarily established during the preschool years.