No discussion of psychosocial development in middle childhood would be complete without a significant focus on friendship. This is a time when peers become extremely important to children’s sense of self and how they interact with other people. As children develop, friends affect their development in virtually every domain. Friends spend a great deal of time together, and thus are a key source of emotional support. They also provide opportunities to practice communication, and encounter perspectives on the world and their experiences that may be different from those at home.