Is it healthy to have imaginary friends when your 12?

Answer 1

Hell, I still have an imaginary friend.

Okay, girlfriend.

She lives in Canada; you wouldn't know her.

Answer 2

As a student in Child Development, I have to say that it's not healthy for a 12 year old to have an imaginary friend.

If he's doing it for fun and it's not serious, I hope the difference is obvious to you.

At this age, it would be normal for him to spend more time with his friends than with the parents...but REAL friends is the key. If he's spending hours alone by himself, he can either be a really introverted boy or is having some issues finding play mates.

Before you get more concerned try enrolling him in a sport camp, or other activities where he can meet other kids who have the same interests as he does. It could just be he's having a hard time fitting in and is making up having an imaginary friend so he doesn't feel lonely.

If you hear his instructors mentioning anything about him having an imaginary friend...that should be a point of concern and you should seek some psychiatric help for you child.

Answer 3

It depends. If the 12 year old is forgoing normal relationships with other kids, prefering the imaginary friend to everybody else, this is probably not a good thing. But it's possible this "imaginary friend" is kind of like a security blanket -- comforting and safe. It would be worth talking the child frankly about this, I think. Find out why they like the imaginary friend and see if you can determine why it is they feel they need it (why do they need to feel "safe," for example -- are they being picked on in school or at home? Do they have low self-esteem? Etc.).

It might be worth talking to the child's pediatrician as well, if possible. Just to get some ideas or suggestions on ways you can ease the kid away from his dependence on the imaginary friend. But the child is most likely not "crazy," or anything like that, and it's important not to make matters worse by belittling the kid for still having an imaginary friend, or making the kid feel isolated or "weird."

Answer 4

MY child's dr said that if a child doesn't watch a lot of tv that they use their imagination more--which is good. I don't know at what age it should be outgrown. When I was your age I would talk to imaginary people when I was alone. I knew the imaginary friends weren't real but it helped me to cope with the abuse that was in my home. I used to pretend that my imaginary friend cared and I could talk to them.

Answer 5

I think you would want to look into why the person needs this imaginary friend in the first place

If the need seems harmless, then things are probably OK.

But if the need is somehow related to stresses and difficulties the person is having ( or has had ) in their life......then those situations are the things you would want to be concerned about.

Make sense ??

Bob J.

Answer 6

It might be unhealthy to tell certain people about them. Being ridiculed is not healthy. As well, if you know your friends are imaginary, then you are able to distinguish between what is real and what is fantasized. Interesting to ask what these friends are like and how can they be matched to real people in the real world (that would be ideal to bring the wished for in line with the real).

Answer 7

No. I watched an episode of Supernatrual on Thursday and if you keep your imaginary friend...she might become an issue or become evil or worst...become real. Find some friend, start a conversation with some people, and talk to a dootr.

Answer 8

No, it is not healthy. A 12 year should be at an age were they are seeking out real friends and relationships.

Answer 9

no...if you or someone you know has an imaginary friend, you might want to speak to a doctor about it. The reason could be to mask something traumatic that may have happend.

Be strong.

Answer 10

Depends on the persons situation