Characteristics and qualities of the play dates of children with Down syndrome: emerging or true friendships?

Although research on typical development suggests that friendship is a social relationship based on interactions with certain criteria, the qualities, definitions, and characteristics of friendship are not well-understood among children with atypical development. In this study, the interactions of 27 dyads of children in a play-date situation were examined; one dyad member had Down syndrome. The peers brought were more often the same gender, age, and ethnicity. Dyads who were similar in gender, CA, and classroom experiences had better quality interactions. Twenty dyads met strict friendship criteria and, thus, could be classified as friends. These friend dyads were more positive in affect, more often involved in turn-taking, and played at higher levels than did children categorized as simply playmates.