Kids Want Friends Who Know the Same Songs

"I've always wanted to have a neighbor just like you," Mister Rogers used to sing from millions of television sets while changing his shoes. But even if Fred Rogers wanted to be everyone's neighbor, most people are more selective. Whether they choose to hang out with each other may depend on their gender, race, political affiliation, or even favorite sports teams. A new study shows that these preferences start early: kids as young as 4 years old want to be friends with other kids who know the same songs they do. At Harvard University's Laboratory for Developmental Studies, Gaye Soley and Elizabeth Spelke gathered two dozen children who were 4 or 5 years old. On a screen, kids looked at photographs of other 5-year-olds' faces (all Caucasian). The researchers displayed the photos in pairs. For each photo, they played a digital melody and claimed it was that kid's "favorite song." ...