![](/media/rrejuy5p/e5ad044bc67ccfac89d649ceebc53f2b.gif?width=1002&height=668&bgcolor=White&v=1da4dcf04a2d440)
The children also adapted their behaviours when speaking with their peers of a different ethnic group.
The French-Canadian children used longer sentences when interacting with children of the same ethnicity, but decreased their verbal interactions when they played with peers of Asian-Canadian descent.
Dale Stack, professor of Psychology at Concordia University, said, ‘Children of both groups adapted their behaviours by speaking less in the case of French-Canadian children and by speaking more in the case of Asian-Canadian children.’
The study, which builds on previous research, also revealed that children of different ethnicities influenced conflict among their peers of the same background. This was most common with the Asian-Canadian children, who were most competitive and frequently took toys from each other.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here