2.2 Peers and social interactions

Peer interactions during the primary years are vital in shaping children’s understanding of their own and others’ racial identities. As you saw in Arjun’s story, seemingly innocent playground interactions can carry powerful messages about race and belonging.

Peer pressure, that is the influence to conform to group norms, is central to this process. Brown (1989) defines peer pressure as the group’s positive reinforcement of conformity and punishments against resistance. This pressure can encourage positive behaviours, like sharing and inclusion, or negative ones, such as exclusion based on race.

For racially minoritised children, peer acceptance or rejection can deeply impact self-esteem and identity development. Exclusion or bullying linked to race can lead to internalised racism, when children begin to devalue their own racial background and see themselves negatively because of repeated negative messages from peers. In Arjun’s case, being consistently cast as the ‘baddie’ made him associate his darker skin with being ‘less good’ (Brown and Bigler, 2005). In contrast, supportive and diverse peer groups can boost pride in children’s identity.

What you might observe

• Children gravitating towards peers who look similar to them.
• Exclusion during play based on physical appearance.
• Comments about skin colour, hair texture or cultural differences.
• Children expressing negative feelings about their own appearance.

Supporting positive peer interactions

When racial bias or exclusion occurs, thoughtful intervention is essential. Addressing exclusion directly while fostering understanding teaches children why such behaviours are harmful. Activities like role-play, guided discussions and collaborative projects can encourage empathy, challenge bias and support inclusive peer relationships.

Rather than ignoring incidents like Arjun’s experience, adults can use them as teachable moments about fairness, representation and the value of diversity.