And not having an imaginary friend? Also normal. It depends on the child. You might assume that only very young children have imaginary friends, but research has shown that older kids have imaginary pals, too. Or the friend might be a stuffed animal or toy that they role-play with.
Little Emma talks to her stuffed bear regularly. Eshleman says not to worry. It might feel awkward when your child discusses their imaginary friend with you.
But Dr. Or talk to them about what they did with their friend today. Maybe your child wants their imaginary friend to have a place at the dinner table. It can also help to play along. Set an extra place at dinner, or ask your child if their friend is coming on trips, for instance. If your child or their pretend friend becomes demanding or causes problems, you can set boundaries. Plus, setting boundaries can be a teaching moment.
While most imaginary friends are thought of as kind, friendly, and obedient, not all have been described as so. Some have been called disruptive, rule breaking, or aggressive. These more difficult relationships may still help a child navigate social relationships and cope with hard times in the real world.
Every child is different and will grow out of this part of their lives at their own time. There are more reports of children under 7 with imaginary friends, though other reports have shown imaginary friends existing in children up to 12 years old. When it comes to a vivid imagination, parents may question whether their child is in fact experiencing hallucinations or psychosis. Childhood-onset schizophrenia is rare and difficult to diagnose. When it does occur, it usually happens after age 5 but before If your child has sudden disruptive changes in their behavior and is experiencing something much more than an imaginary friend, reach out to their pediatrician or a mental health professional.
While schizophrenia symptoms and imaginary friends are often different and separate, there are other mental and physical conditions that may have a link. Research in , for instance, found that children who go on to develop dissociative disorders had a much higher likelihood of having an imaginary friend.
Dissociative disorders are mental health conditions where a person experiences a disconnect from reality. Other research has suggested that adults with Down syndrome have a higher rate of imaginary companions and are more likely to keep these friends into adulthood.
In a recent study, researchers did find that 7. However, this was a small sample size and had some limitations. Further research is needed. With that being said, there seems to be no indication that an imaginary friend continuing into adulthood means anything different than one in childhood. Most times, imaginary friends are harmless and normal. But if you believe your child is experiencing something more, see their primary doctor.
Advice given here is not intended to provide a basis for action in particular circumstances without consideration by a competent professional. Having imaginary friends is perfectly normal for kids. My six-year-old son has had an imaginary friend, Danny, since he was two. I have never had a problem with my son having this friend; he never tries to blame his mistakes on him. Over the past year he's created another friend, Russie, and they all play together. My son loves playing with real children, but his imaginary friends are always around when he's at home.
Having imaginary friends is perfectly normal for kids and there is no truth to the belief that kids who have imaginary friends are emotionally disturbed, lack the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality, or are suffering from a personality disorder.
Your son's having an imaginary friend has not prevented his healthy social development or his healthy functioning in life.
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