Friendships are so important. They have always been important; but it seems to be the most important in my opinion. Let's see how friendships play an important role throughout our lives. Friendships are defined and formed at every stage of life right from childhood. These include early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood. Friendships grow from one stage to another. During this time friends become closer. Relationships begin as acquaintances and can remain so for a period of time. An acquaintance is someone you know in passing. You may interact with this individual occasionally or regularly. They are not your real friends. They don't fall into the normal category of friendship or relationship; just an acquaintance. The child's brain will be close to the weight and volume of an adult by age five. What this suggests is that during the early years information flows through the structures of the brain and is widely known. The connection, pathway, and structures of the brain are used as learning tools that continue throughout life. Infancy and early childhood friendships are based on trust and security. Newborns depend on their parents and caregivers for everything. When a baby is picked up, a new connection is made. The child develops awareness; that when I do this, this will happen. So every time you stroke a baby's back, breastfeed them, or enter a new place, new connections are made. This does not suggest that ninety percent of the information the person will know is learned within the first five years. Young children and infants change and grow rapidly; acquire skills in all areas of development; these include physical, cognitive and social emotions... middle of paper... d.). Education.com. Retrieved April 8, 2014, from http://www.education.com/reference/article/peer-relations-middle-childhood/Relationships in Early Adulthood. (n.d.). Relationships in early adulthood. Retrieved April 8, 2014, from http://www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/sociology/marriage-family-alternative-lifestyles/relationships-in-early-adulthoodInto The Depths of The Human Mind: Middle Childhood and Adolescent. (n.d.). In the depths of the human mind: middle childhood and adolescence. Retrieved April 8, 2014, from http://intothefoundsofthehumanmind.blogspot.com/2012/12/middle-childhood-and-adolescent.htmlEvaluating the National Outcomes: Youth--Social Competencies; Adolescent Relationships. (n.d.). Evaluation of national results: Young people – Social skills; Adolescent Relationships. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from http://ag.arizona.edu/sfcs/cyfernet/nowg/sc