Best friends, worst enemies : understanding the social lives of children

Questions about children's friendships and social development consume parents.

Is my child popular? What if she isn't? What if she is being excluded from that group? What if he is a bully or a victim? When should I intervene, and how?"Best friends, worst enemies" balances anecdotes and theory to examine the social world of children, addressing such issues as: the developmental stages of children's friendships, cliques, bullying, popularity, best friends, social cruelty, pecking order, dating, and the role of parents and schools.

It also examines the difference between friendship and popularity, and the different ways that boys and girls deal with intimacy and commitment.