How do children choose a best friend?

For many of us, the coronavirus pandemic revealed who our closest friends are. Deprived of social opportunities to interact with a wider group, we became more reliant than ever on a small group of confidants. For children, the situation was even more dramatic, especially for those too young to enjoy Zoom calls. Many missed their social circle – especially their best friends.

These friends aren’t just people we enjoy hanging out with, they are the ones we trust completely. As children, we tend to treat them as members of our extended family, to the point where their homes may feel as familiar as our own. As adults, we know we can call them at a moment’s notice to share the highs and lows of our daily lives.