Children who learn to play well with others at pre-school age tend to enjoy better mental health as they get older, new research shows. The study provides the first clear evidence that the ability to play with peers has a protective effect on mental health. Researchers analysed data from almost 1,700 children at ages three and seven. Those with better peer play ability at age three consistently showed fewer signs of poor mental health four years later. Significantly, this protective link between peer play and mental health held true even for sub-groups of children who were particularly at risk of mental health problems. The findings suggest that giving young children who might be vulnerable to mental health issues access to well-supported opportunities to play with peers — for example, at playgroups run by early years specialists — could be a way to significantly benefit their long-term mental health.