how do you deal with a child who has an imaginary friend?

Question

will you tolerate this situation to your child? why?

Answer 1

100% normal. Frustrating as all hell sometimes. It passes. Sometimes I have to put my foot down and tell my kid the imaginary friend has to stay home when we go somewhere, and a couple times I straight grounded the little imaginary bugger. Try to have a sense of humor about it, and be as patient as possible.

Answer 2

Having an imaginary friend is actually a good sign. It means your child may turn out to be artistic, intelligent, and willing to think outside the box. My daughter who is now 24--had several imaginary friends. She graduated college with honors and is very successful. I think it allows them to explore fantasy and what if situations without actually doing any of the things their imaginary friends do. Like hers would walk on the ceiling, get stuff out of the freezer section at the grocery store, etc.

We just simply let her go with it. We didn't scold her or make a big deal about. It was actually kinda of funny sometimes.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Yes.
First it is out of imagination, second it is out of possibly not having any friends (lonely) and third, this friend could be their protector.
Knowing which one these imaginary friends will help you further understand your childs needs. This is how your child is communicating to you. I would also say that if your child is fearful of critisism they will offer an imaginary friend to get hurt rather than themselves. So if you except this imaginary friend and CARE about them, this will show your child that your are compassionate.
It isn't unusual.

Answer 4

It's ok when they are young but if they still have an imaginary friend going into 5th and 6th grade, you need to talk to them and find out why they have an imaginary friend but no real friends. The basic rule about imaginary friends is they are ok as longas there are still real friends.

Answer 5

It's pretty common; unless you think your child is covering up some huge problem with an imaginary friend, I'd simply play along. It won't be long before he/she moves on to some other game.

Answer 6

Yes, let them have an imaginary friend. It stimulates their creativity and most of the time kids that have imaginary friends are gifted. They will outgrow it eventually, in the meantime, set an extra place at the table.

Enjoy it while it lasts, you will have lots of stories to tell when they are older.

Answer 7

Imaginary friends are great! i had several as a child. You may want to prepare yourself just in case your child starts blaming his or her imaginary friend for bad things that they themselves have done (i.e. breaking lamps, dishes, etc.). If THAT happens, just tell the child that they should tell (imaginary friend's name) that if they continue to be naughty they will have to leave and never come backl. That has been PROVEN to eliminate "blame shifting". Best wishes!

Answer 8

This is a normal and healthy stage in child development, don't worry about it too much, when you child speaks about his/her imaginary friend, you can ask questions about the friend, etc. act normally and it will go away by itself.

Your child is perfectly normal, enjoy that.

Answer 9

tolerate it, it means your child has some problems, no friends, he/she doesn´t feel loved or respected... talk to him/her, but if it doesn´t help just tolerate, it might help your child develop, an imaginary FRIEND is mostly someone who sticks to you in every situation, you can make him cry or laugh whenever you want to, i know lots of ppl who learned to love with this!

Answer 10

Encourage him.... Daydreaming and Imaginary friends are the building blocks to a great imagination.

It will help him develop abstract thinking.... A good life skill.