How old were your DC when they started to really 'know' who their friends were?

[notnowbernard]

Rather than just playing with anyone, being "best friends" with different people on different days etc

I was about 7 IIRC

DD1 is still at the stage where most of her class are her friends. She doesn't seem to have really close friendships yet. She's 6

Just being nosy, really!

My DD is only 3y4m and she has had the same 'best friend' for the past year. It is lovely to behold the way their faces light up when they see each other (and they are together 3 days each week at nursery). When one is away the other is bereft. I'm actually quite worried for when they start (different) schools.

For dd it was a few months after she started school. She is now at the end of Yr 1 and has the same best friend although the relationship waxes and wanes sometimes. Whilst she likes most of her class, she does not invest much time in most of them.

For ds, not until Yr 1 and it still changes on a frequent basis (at the end of Yr 2). He invests time in lots of different people with varying outcomes.

DS has a definate couple of best friends at nursery, and he's 4. For the last year, he and these two girls have been as thick as theives, and run to meet each other in the morning. In fact one of them has been his best friend since they were in the baby room together

My DS has had a best friend at preschool since before Christmas and has been unwavering in his attachment to him (and it's reciprocated). So I suppose he was about three and a half when he got his first best friend.

They change constantly, they go from group to group, it was only when they get to 10 years, I think.

Interesting

DD1 never had a "best friend" at nursery, either, but played with lots of people - she is a "gregarious" type if her report is to be believed. Seems she is carrying this through Infant stage too. I think she has more of a defined friendship 'group' now but not a super-close 1 or 2 friends. She still asks for someone different to come back to tea every week...

DD2 I think is more likely to make close friends earlier. Will see in September I suppose!

My dgs has a 'best friend' a little girl and they adore each other.he has other friends but she is the one he talks about and asks to see.He is 3.9 and she is 3.6.