Imaginary friend,good or bad?

Question

Today lots of kids have an imaginary friend. I wonder, how does this influence the kid's mind?

Answer 1

The development of an imaginary friend is NOT inherently a sign of a mental problem. It all depends on the specifics of the situation.

After all, in some senses even adults have imaginary friends of sorts. Many treat objects as if they were people, give them names and pronouns reserved for people instead of objects, and so on. Usually such behaviour (in children or adults) is just a kind of game played with the imagination or a crutch to ease social woes.

Even when children seem unable to distinguish an imaginary friend from a real one, it is not necessarily a sign of concern. Some psychologists feel that this can be a useful tool to help a child learn to make those distinctions between the imaginary and the real. And there are those who would argue that millions of people have beliefs in unreal entities who they nonetheless claim to be as real as anything else. But let's not segue into a religious argument.

An imaginary friend CAN be a sign for concern if it interferes with a normal life. I recall the case of one murderer claimed he had to commit his acts because the neighbor's dog told him to. An extreme example. Most children (and adults) do not choose to spend time with an imaginary friend INSTEAD of a real one, but if they consistently do then this, too, can be a sign of concern. Likewise, some people become afraid of their imaginary 'friends', in which case they might be more properly called imaginary enemies, I suppose.

Bottom line - it's not really the imaginary friend itself that could be a problem, but how a person values and interacts with it that might be.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Wow, what a strangley interesting question! I've often thought an imaginary friend might be fun. As a child I indulged in lots of imaginary play, but whenever I'd think of creating an imaginary friend, I'd end up forgetting about him/her as soon as I slept!

I've heard some people say imaginary friends are really familiar demons! I've heard other say an imaginary friend can save a child's sanity in an insane home environment. I think I'm just not qualified to say! (But I'll be very interested to read the answers you get!)

Answer 3

Lots of kids throughout the years have had imaginary friends. Its not a bad thing, its a kind of release for them. When your little you cant always talk to adults and alot of little kids dont have best friends, and even when they do there friend isnt always there with them. Imaginary friends help kids get over their fear of the dark, fear of monsters under the bed, whatever. Nothing wrong with it and when they are ready they will leave there imaginary friends behind.

Answer 4

You know, this "imaginary friend" issue kind of seems to me as being a particularly United states` social phenomenon.
I don`t remember me having an imaginary friend as a child, nor my sys. Nor my cous.
Thought I pretended in my child play a lot, like I imagined myself surrouned by a misterious alien landskape and ran around the room... but, all this imaginary friend stuff is kinda weird indeed

Answer 5

Normal. Kids who have imaginary friends are normal. It is actually good. It shows that they have creativity and healthy imaginations. It also keeps them from sitting in front of the TV all day. If they're outside playing with their imaginary friend, then they are getting exercise and sunshine.

Answer 6

I had an imaginary friend when I was little, around 3 or 4. Her name was Sharon. I grew out of her by the time I went to school. No harm done and my imagination was great.

Answer 7

i believe it depends on the age.I know I played Gi Joe and stuff by myself against a non existant friend but then as the kid gets older that imaginary friend should start to fade as he becomes more open to the world and makes real friends. I think after a certain point it can be unhealthy. It keeps him out of reality.

Answer 8

My daughter is 7 and has had the same imaginary friend for years. I'm starting to worry about schizophrenia.

But overall I've read that imaginary friends in younger children can be very positive ...just as long as its not forever.

Answer 9

I have 3 children,,, 1 girl and 2 boys

My daughter has an imaginary friend (a girl) just to do those girly things with and when she is tired of her brothers. I honestly think that this expands her mind and allows her time to do those things that she cannot do with her brothers

Answer 10

Its a wonderful thing! Children often need to have a way to communicate with their inner self, and to express ideas and feelings which they believe may not be acceptable to the outside world. Having an imaginary friend can fulfill both of these needs. They can carry on a discourse with their friend, or a disagreement! And they can attribute ideas or behaviors to the friend to test how the outside world (typically the parent) will react. It allows them to feel safe and to explore possibilities!