Peer play interaction in a mixed-age preschool setting

This investigation examined children’s peer play interaction in a multiage preschool setting. Twenty children between three and six years of age were observed interacting with one another during free play. Their mode and level of play interaction with same-age, cross-age younger, and cross-age older peers were recorded during two 10-minute observation periods. It was found that both older and younger children interacted primarily with their own age groups rather than with cross-age peers, and that such interaction involved low levels of play. The data failed to show any consistent adjustments in the level of play during cross-age interaction.