Teaching, caring, and altruistic behaviors in toddlers

• One-year-old children (N = 13) and zero-year-old children (N = 8) were observed for 15 min, 6 times in a year.
• Their teaching, caring, and altruistic behaviors were analyzed in detail.
• Results indicated that peer-directed behaviors of one-year-olds increased dramatically.

Peer-directed behaviors of toddlers were longitudinally recorded in a naturalistic preschool setting. An observer (O, the first author) recorded children's behaviors during play sessions with an IC recorder. One-year-old children (N = 13) and children under the age of 12 months (N = 8) were observed for 15 min, 6 times in a year. Their teaching, caring, and altruistic behaviors were analyzed in detail. Results indicated that peer-directed behaviors of one-year-olds increased dramatically. It is concluded that toddlers are sophisticated social being.