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- While some parents may be concerned, it’s completely normal for a child to have an imaginary friend. Compared to children who don’t have an imaginary friend, children who do aren’t different in the following ways: most personality traits family structure number of nonimaginary friends experience in school
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Do kids have imaginary friends?
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Feb 15, 2024 · 3 min read. If your child has an imaginary friend, they’re not alone. It’s common for toddlers and young children to have pretend friends that they share experiences with. What Is an...
- Victoria Hamilton
Aug 19, 2019 · Estimates suggest as many as two-thirds of children have an imaginary companion at some point in their youth, with the occurrence usually falling between the ages of three and eight years of...
- Overview
- What does it mean?
- Is it OK for kids to have an imaginary friend?
- How should a parent react?
- What age do kids grow out of it?
- Is it linked to schizophrenia?
- What about if an adult has an imaginary friend?
- When to see a doctor
- The bottom line
Having an imaginary friend, sometimes called an imaginary companion, is considered a normal and even healthy part of childhood play.
Research on imaginary friends has been ongoing for decades, with doctors and parents alike wondering whether it’s healthy or “normal.”
Most research has shown again and again that it’s typically a natural part of childhood for many children.
Earlier research states as many as 65 percent of children up to age 7 had an imaginary friend.
It’s not uncommon for children to create imaginary friends or companions — someone they can talk to, interact with, and play with.
These pretend friends may take the form of anything: an invisible friend, an animal, something fantastical, or within an item, like a toy or stuffed animal.
Most research has shown that having an imaginary friend is a healthy form of childhood play. Studies have even found there may be some benefits for development in those children who create imaginary companions.
Benefits may include:
•superior social cognition
•more sociability
While some parents may be concerned, it’s completely normal for a child to have an imaginary friend.
Compared to children who don’t have an imaginary friend, children who do aren’t different in the following ways:
•most personality traits
•family structure
•number of nonimaginary friends
•experience in school
If your child tells you about their imaginary friend, ask questions. You can learn more about your child, their interests, and what the imaginary friend may be doing for them.
For example, is their imaginary friend teaching them how to deal with friendships?
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. There’s no need to give into bad behavior, pretend or otherwise. Plus, setting boundaries can be a teaching moment.
Some parents worry that children with imaginary friends don’t have a good grasp on reality versus imagination, but this isn’t typically true.
In fact, most children understand their imaginary friends are pretend.
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.
There’s no need to worry if an older child still speaks about their imaginary friend.
When it comes to a vivid imagination, parents may question whether their child is in fact experiencing hallucinations or psychosis.
Having an imaginary friend isn’t the same as experiencing these symptoms, which are often associated with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia doesn’t typically show symptoms until a person is between 16 and 30 years old.
Childhood-onset schizophrenia is rare and difficult to diagnose. When it does occur, it usually happens after age 5 but before 13.
Some symptoms of childhood schizophrenia include:
•paranoia
There’s not a lot of research on imaginary friends in adulthood.
In a recent study, researchers did find that 7.5 percent of those studied reported experiencing an imaginary friend as an adult. 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.
It may just be a sign of coping or of a strong imagination, though experts are unsure.
Most times, imaginary friends are harmless and normal. But if you believe your child is experiencing something more, see their primary doctor.
Any time the behaviors and moods of your child shift dramatically or start to worry you, reach out for support from your child’s doctor or a mental health professional.
If your child’s imaginary friend ever becomes scary, aggressive, or frightening to your child, an evaluation with a mental health professional can give you peace of mind.
To find a doctor near you, follow these links:
•psychiatrist locator
•psychologist locator
Having an imaginary friend is a normal and healthy part of childhood play. Having one has even shown benefits in childhood development.
If your child has an imaginary friend, it’s totally OK. They can grow out of it in their own time as they stop needing the skills that their companion is teaching them.
Mar 29, 2021 · “A little over half of all children have an imaginary friend or playmate at some point,” says Dr. Eshleman. “But if they don’t have one, that’s fine too. 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.
Oct 16, 2021 · Key points. Up to two-thirds of kids experience imaginary companions. An imaginary friend indicates how a child's mind merges sensations and real perceptions with imaginings, desires,...
- Michael Jawer
Jul 30, 2021 · A study conducted by researchers at the University of Oregon found that by age 7, 37 percent of children had an invisible friend. Some research indicates that kids with imaginary friends are more likely to be first-born or only children, but that doesn’t mean imaginary friends are just for kids who are lonely.
Child psychologist Linda Blair writes all about imaginary friends, why some children have them and what to do if you're worried about them.
