A new study published in the Journal of Child Psychiatry and Human Development looked at the evidence for protective effects of peer play during the early years.
“We were hoping to find out whether early play experiences with other children are important for later mental health and wellbeing,” study author Jenny Louise Gibson told us. “We think that play with others protects against future mental health challenges because it is a natural way for children to develop the cognitive and emotional maturity they need to build up a strong social network.”