Prue DeAraugoImaginary Friends
June 5th 2008 04:08
When I was a child I had an imaginary friend, she was a witch, and called ‘Witchy’. It is quite common for children to have imaginary friends usually from about the age of two until around five years. Imaginary friends can take many different forms, from animals, to insects to other children or as in my case a witch.
Children may create these imaginary friends as a playmate or a confidante to discuss issues that are too sensitive to talk to their parents about. Sometimes they help children deal with stresses in their lives such as fear of the dark or monsters under the bed. Some parents may worry that if their child has an imaginary friend then they must be lonely, but this is not necessarily the case. It could mean your child is imaginative.
Some children’s imaginary friends go everywhere with them, they sit at the table, and come along for outings with the family. Other children’s friends just live in one room or outside.
My imaginary friend mostly lived in my bedroom but she often hung out on the staircase that leads down to the basement under our house. Our toilet was next to those stairs and when I flushed the toilet, I had to run past those stairs because she used to chase me.
If your child has, an imaginary friend it is best to accept that it is a normal part of growing up. If you are invited to play with your child and their friend, join in but, if they want to keep their imaginary friend private then you need to accept that too.
Sometimes when your child misbehaves they may blame it on their friend, but do not let them blame everything on their friend. For example, it is ok to blame the friend for a bedwetting accident but not for hitting their little brother.
Research carried out by Taylor and Carlson for the journal Developmental Psychology suggests that children do realise their imaginary friends are not of this world. According to Carlson some children were concerned about the researchers grip on reality, with several children taking them aside and pointing out that it is just pretend play.
Imaginary friends usually disappear sometime between the child’s fifth and seventh birthday, usually they are forgotten about, or they are sent away or they die. I cannot remember when mine disappeared I think she was forgotten about by the time I was seven though.
Children may create these imaginary friends as a playmate or a confidante to discuss issues that are too sensitive to talk to their parents about. Sometimes they help children deal with stresses in their lives such as fear of the dark or monsters under the bed. Some parents may worry that if their child has an imaginary friend then they must be lonely, but this is not necessarily the case. It could mean your child is imaginative.
Some children’s imaginary friends go everywhere with them, they sit at the table, and come along for outings with the family. Other children’s friends just live in one room or outside.
My imaginary friend mostly lived in my bedroom but she often hung out on the staircase that leads down to the basement under our house. Our toilet was next to those stairs and when I flushed the toilet, I had to run past those stairs because she used to chase me.
If your child has, an imaginary friend it is best to accept that it is a normal part of growing up. If you are invited to play with your child and their friend, join in but, if they want to keep their imaginary friend private then you need to accept that too.
Sometimes when your child misbehaves they may blame it on their friend, but do not let them blame everything on their friend. For example, it is ok to blame the friend for a bedwetting accident but not for hitting their little brother.
Research carried out by Taylor and Carlson for the journal Developmental Psychology suggests that children do realise their imaginary friends are not of this world. According to Carlson some children were concerned about the researchers grip on reality, with several children taking them aside and pointing out that it is just pretend play.
Imaginary friends usually disappear sometime between the child’s fifth and seventh birthday, usually they are forgotten about, or they are sent away or they die. I cannot remember when mine disappeared I think she was forgotten about by the time I was seven though.
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