Alternatively, these may be shy or socially inhibited children who find it difficult to approach others and who are largely excluded from friendship networks. The fact that there were more of the younger children than older children within the ‘friendless’ category also suggests a developmental aspect to the findings. Perhaps the concept of “best friend” is less understood by or less relevant to younger preschoolers, although research has shown that even toddlers show signs of selective peer affiliation (Dunn, 2004, Hay and Cook, 2007 and Howes, 1996). A possible, alternative explanation for the age difference is simply that younger children have had less time in day care and hence less opportunity to develop strong affiliations. Nevertheless, the emergence of this group in the current study raises questions about the meanings and consequences of peer affiliation, or lack thereof, for children who do not perceive themselves as having close friends.