[Functional and ontogenetic aspects of the interactions of the child with his peers during the first 3 years].

From 5 or 6 months of age until the end of their 3rd year of life, the children, all having the same peers, were studied. This study shows that: 1. A child has diverse and relatively complex competence in communicating with its peers, well before the age of one. 2. From 6 to 36 months of age, there is a progressive change of importance in the different kinds of behavior for the child, relating to developmental factors and ways of interacting between the child and its family. 3. A child's interactions with its peers doesn't necessarily come about through objects. 4. Most of the child's interactions seem to come from basic or pivotal behaviors, which seem to work as behavioral organizers.