Families and teachers spend countless hours supporting preschoolers and primary age children in the development of mental tools like focus, memory, and other problem-solving skills that help children think better, pay attention, and remember what they have experienced. Children use these tools to succeed in reading, writing, math, science, and other content areas; they can learn them from adults through a process called "guided participation." Young children can also apply mental tools to build social problem-solving skills. While teachers and parents often focus on the ABC's and the 123's, they may pay limited attention to young children's needs to develop socially, make friends, be a friend, and be part of a group. Helping young children develop social skills as they interact with peers and adults can support them now and in the future, as peer acceptance supports positive social development. This article discusses the use of guided participation to support young children's social development.