Establishing and maintaining positive social interaction with peers is important for young
children because it will form a foundation for their later social adjustment and academic
achievement. Social competence in this study means an increasing awareness and
understanding of other human beings as part of the child\'s world. The purpose of the study
was to help four-year-old children to accept other children in their mind. This study had three
specific aims: To find the reasons for their difficulties; to examine their changing play
behavior; and to observe teachers\' roles in helping them to become involved in peer group
play. Lack of communication skills and emotional instability were the main difficulties the
children faced. Regarding the changing play pattern, they passed through five distinctive
stages: Staying alone, showing strong interest in the peer group play, going voluntarily to
friends, actively playing with one or two friends, and finally becoming an active member of
the peer play group. In improving children\'s involvement in peer group play the teachers
played several important roles: Making them feel safe, giving them an opportunity to
experience familiar things, suggesting plays, creating opportunities to become acquainted
with other children, and modeling how to play with other children.