HOME Lab Assignments page 9 23. What Is a Friend? PURPOSE The objective of this activity is to explore the development trend of friendships. ASSIGNMENT STATEMENT: (1)  Ask five school-age children ages 5, 10, 12, 15, and 18 to complete the written statements below. Describe the children you interviewed.  (2)  Summarize the results.   (3)  Compare and contrast the answers of each subject.  (4)  Include your reaction to your findings.  (Four elements) Finish these statements:  My best friend is... We like to .... This is my best friend because .... My friend is.... I like my friend because... Friends don't ... My friend likes me because... FEEL FREE TO ASK OTHER QUESTONS THAT MIGHT GIVE YOU AN INSIGHT INTO DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIPS AT DIFFERENT AGES.  Notice that younger children often base their friendships on possession, while older children may describe a friend with reference to personal qualities.  24. Gender Differences in Peer Activities PURPOSE The objective of this activity is to identify how gender influences peer interactions in the middle childhood years. ASSIGNMENT STATEMENT: (1)  Observe children in a natural setting in order to see how gender influences peer interactions in the middle childhood years. Describe the subjects.  Use the information in the Instructions below  and review Table 13.1 in the text for activities to look for. (2)  After conducting the observations, prepare a brief summary of results, focusing on the extent to which the children being observed segregated themselves according to gender. (3)  Did the segregation seem substantial, moderate, or minor? (4)  Comment on whether observations reflect what has been learned from the textbook. How can any inconsistencies be explained? (Four elements) Gender Differences in Peer Interactions Instructions: Find a playground, park, or other setting where large numbers of middle-childhood boys and girls are present and interacting freely. (Please note: If observing at a school playground, it is a good idea to let the building staff know who you are and what you are doing.) Observe at the setting for one hour, taking notes on gender differences in the following respects: 1. Size of social groupings aust a few or many persons?) 2. Extend of gender segregation (are both sexes represented?) 3. Type of play or activity (competitive, cooperative?) 4. Cross-gender interaction (gender boundary rules? teasing of the opposite sex? ignoring?) 5. What type of influence do adults have on the children's interactions? 25. The Effects of Divorce on Children PURPOSE The objective of this activity is to assess the psychological and lifestyle effects of divorce on children. ASSIGNMENT STATEMENT:  (1)  Interview a classmate or friend whose parents were divorced during the person's middle childhood years. Give descriptive information about the interviewee.  (2)  Use the information in the instructions to assess the psychological and lifestyle effects of divorce.  (3)  Report results, being careful to respect confidentiality by omitting information identifying subjects. (4)  What significant similarities and differences are noted among responses?  (5)  What might account for these similarities and differences?   (Five elements) Effects of Divorce Instructions: Interview a classmate or friend whose parents were divorced during the person's middlechildhood years. You may, if you wish, use your own experience with divorce during your childhood. Ask the following questions. 1. How old were you when your parents were divorced? 2. Did you know in advance about the divorce? If so, how? If not, how did you find out? 3. What were your first emotions and thoughts? 4. t/Vere your parents or other adults able to help you? If so, how did they help? 5. Did you feel responsible or implicated? If so, in what way? 6. Vvho had custody of the children? 7. How often did you see the other parent? 8. What were the first, most obvious, changes in the household? 9. What were the long-term changes? 10. What fantasies did you have about your parents after their divorce? 11. How do you feel now about the experience?