Is it healthy for my son to have an imaginary friend?

Question

How old is to old to have an imaginary friend? My son is 7 years old he is the youngest of my 3 kids. He has a stuffed dog that he pretends is real, but the dog does like human things.He has a job and drives a Ford truck stuff like that. My son has normal friends, but when I tell him his dog is not real it hurts his feelings really bad. Is this healthy I mean should I just let him be and he will out grow it? Yes I have bought him a real dog and it didn't change anything.TY.

Answer 1

Perfectly normal, usually that kind of imagination is the sign of a bright, creative child.

He may be a writer and create the next Harry Potter. Let him play. It is a healthy outlet and a dog driving a Ford truck sounds like the basis for a child's book.

Encourage him to make up stories, write them down. If he can write well enough, encourage him to write the stories and illustrate his books. Buy him a tape recorder, so he can tape his stories.

Answer 2

An imaginary friend is a made-up person, animal or character that is created in the minds of some people, especially young children, and is sometimes seen in those with autism. Despite an imaginary friend being unreal, the child will act as if the imaginary being is physically present by talking to it, playing with it, or even attempting to feed it. Of course, to another person it will seem as though the child is talking into thin air. If told that there is nothing there, the child will often retaliate in a defensive manner by stating that the so-called imaginary friend is invisible.

Often times children will dismiss the imaginary friend once they find real ones or become old enough to realize that their friend is fictional. Parents shouldn't be worried about their children having an imaginary friend, as it often helps a child realize the difference between reality and fantasy, as well as give them some form of self-esteem.

Answer 3

I was all for yes of course it is normal it shows imagination but at the age of 7 i can see your worry. Is there anything going on that he is worried about and wants to escape into this world with his dog? Glad to see the dog drives a Ford LOL. Really i wouldn't be too worried unless it interferes with his human friends or he begins involving his friends in his playing with the dog as they will possibly not be as understanding but then they may suprise you. My son had an attachment to a harry Potter wand. It went everywhere and didn't leave his hand for 3 weeks. I think it was a security thing as he had been beaten up a few times for no reason ( the principal looked into all 3 and there was no reason dofferent little shits who like to make life hell for others) he wasn't worried by the beatings and we had talked about it but subconsiously though i think it was worrying him. The teacher was very supportive and in the class they did "magic tricks" and all the kids accepted his wand. Then one day he just left it at home. kids go in and out of weird little habits and this is just probably one for your son.

Answer 4

He's a little boy, let him play. Almost all kinds have imaginary friends. Eventually he will grow out of it, but for now, he's a little kid, don't worry about it. If he goes off to college still acting like the dog is real (or even high school) then he's going to need some help. For now, though, I don't see what there is to worry about.

Answer 5

I think it is good for him! Fuel and fan his imagination, play along with him: talk to his dog, "feed" him, but now and then casually tell the boy the dog, after all, has some limitations for want of real life -- gradually. You may be planning to have a real dog, a pet -- does a lot of good to children, I believe. Even if you don't want a dog in the house, it'd be good for the child to be told about animals as friends (Jungle Book!), taken to the zoo, if and when possible, shown some video clips (very selectively) with animal shows etc. Some of us are fond of Hobbes, Calvin's friend -- Calvin&Hobbes! Lot of lessons for us, right thro' that humour. Surely all that has some meaning in real life. Yes, you should just let him be for the while: befriend him, totally, dog and master together. Play along. No shocks, please. It's not as though he is a loner, he has friends: that dog must be accepted as part of his normal life.

Answer 6

Your other children must be significantly older than your 7 year old son...is there a large age gap there?

If so, then your son could be feeling left out of picture as far as his family goes since everybody else is older than him, something that every child is painfully aware of every time he hears "You're not old enough/you're not big enough to do that."

If this sounds similar to your situation, then perhaps a solution would be to spend more time with him. Right now between your other children, your husband and your job if you have one, you probably do not spend much if any time with him since he seems to pretty much take care of himself. (loner type) This is not the case however; he wants to be included in whatever you or one of the other kids is doing. If the problem continues due to inaction on your part, or stubbornness on his ;) then at least you might be able to hope he outgrows this.

Good luck.

Answer 7

I wouldn't worry. Now if he's 17 and has imaginary friends, then there's a problem. He's only 7. He's young! He'll grow out of it. Guaranteed. Remember the silly things you did when you were a kid? Maybe it seems like you were younger than 7 but I bet you weren't. He should be fine. Let him have his fun.

Answer 8

I think it's wonderful that he has such a great imagination. I would encourage it, but maybe tell him the dog is a special secret dog that you only talk about with mommy and daddy (so his friends don't make fun of him.) He'll give it up on his own.

You can use this opportunity to expand his horizons...encourage him to write stories about his dog's adventures. I think it's so cute that he drives a Ford truck. Kids are so cool!

Answer 9

7 is still okay to have an imaginary friend. Especially if he's just pretending the stuffed dog is alive. Don't worry...he'll grow out of it.

Answer 10

Yeah, I still have imaginary friends and I'm almost 16. I don't go around telling everyone I have one though, it's just something to keep me from begin bored. So he'll grow out of telling people the dog is real and probably just keep it to himself or grow out of it completely.