Why do children have imaginary friends?

Question

I need answers sooooon....

Wow! I didn't expect to get so many answers in such a short period of time...that's a record for me....

It's certainly not from worry, I had an imaginary friend myself when I was younger! But I still have these fantasy things, when I pretend to be someone else and somewhere else and I can do anything. Does that mean I have a strong imagination? Does being a writer have to do with it?

Answer 1

People may invent imaginary friends for companionship, as part of play, or for other reasons. Imaginary friends can serve as an important source of companionship to some children and adults. As an example, clinical psychologists have reported that[citation needed] young children in boarding schools often develop imaginary friends to cope with extreme stress and separation from their family.

According to some psychological theories[citation needed], children often use their imaginary friends as outlets for expressing desires which they would normally be afraid to engage in or for which they would normally be punished. Proponents of these theories state[3] that it is not uncommon for a child to engage in mischief or wrong-doing and then to blame the crime on their imaginary friend, allowing the child to act out fantasies that they are otherwise restricted from experiencing due to societal constraints. Similarly, psychologists report[citation needed] that children often give their imaginary friends personality traits that they themselves lack and make their imaginary friends into ideal versions of themselves: shy children often describe their imaginary friends as playful and outgoing jokesters who are always making them laugh and who are very popular.

A long-time popular misconception holds that most children dismiss or forget the imaginary friend once they begin school and acquire 'real' friends. Some psychologists have suggested that children simply retain but stop speaking about imaginary friends, due to adult expectations and peer pressure. Some children report creating or maintaining imaginary friends as preteens or teenagers [1], and a very few adults report having imaginary friends. [2] [3] [4]

Answer 2

It is a way for them to work through the separation issue. They realise they are an individual and not just an extension of the parent. They can use imaginary friends as a comfort through that phase so they don't feel isolated.
Some more spiritually aware groups also put forward the theory that children can see and talk to spirit children because they have open minds and haven't been told they shouldn't do this.

Answer 3

I have an imaginary sister, Ive had her since I was 10. Its only because I was an only child. So I made her up, And yes I know shes not real. I dont talk to her in public. I never told my parents about her. But yes I had alot of friends. And I still do. I don't always focus on my Imaginary sis. But shes still there for me. But, its not her who is helping me. Im helping me. I just wish I had a real sister...So...

Answer 4

it is a natural phenomena for most children at a certain age-but at other times it could be because they are only children and are lonely or want to pretend the experience of having a sibling.Also children make up friends in order to help them through a particularly hard time such as a death of a parent, being abused or being put through some sort of trauma-the child uses the imaginary friend as a soundboard to bounce thoughts and feelings off of that they dont feel they could convey to anyone else. that's all i got hun-good luck.

Answer 5

Because some children have a hard time making real friends. I was one of those children, but even my imaginary friends didn't like me, so... I grew up without much social contact; and that, in turn, made me an angry, bitter and introverted teenager, who grew into an angry, bitter and introverted adult. Lucky me.

The (one) helpful thing I've learned, is forcing social contact ISN'T a good idea. My mom tried that and all it did was make me enemies early on in life for the length of my school years. I would have rather dug out my veins with a shrimp fork than play with other children. (I'm guessing) Your child might grow out of it eventually, but let your child be the way they are, there's probably a reason for it.

Answer 6

If your question is born out of worry, stop worrying.

Statistically, kids with imaginary friends are quite well adapted, and a large percentage of kids with imaginary friends end up on the higher end of the intellectual spectrum.

Think of it this way: If you could build the perfect friend, would you? Sure. After all, you'd end up with everything you wanted in a friend.

Well, that's what the kid does. He builds a counterpart that "fits" his/her needs. It allows the child something they control at an age when everything seems to be controlled by others. It allows their incredible little minds to work on two planes (which is freaking awesome, when you think about it), and it helps them deal with complex issues like fear, anxiety, etc., by having someone with whom they can 'break things down'.

When I was a kid, I could fly. I could shoot 150 train robbers without getting a scratch. I could save the wrold from evil spies, and I could win the World Series with game-saving catches and breathtaking fastballs.

Imagination. Powerful and wonderful stuff.

Answer 7

The child is lonely and needs someone to talk to in a way they require. As adults we talk to kids the way we want to about what we want to talk about. An imaginary friend or stuffed animal is at the childs level because they create them to be. Try putting yourself in the childs place. How do you talk to the child? How do you play with the child? Do you go to their level? If the friend lasts and in interferring with the child making real life friends then counseling should be done. Otherwise, be there for the child and see if the child breaks away from the imaginary and wants to talk to you instead.

Answer 8

Well, I'm an only child, and I had LOTS of imaginary friends when I was little, and imaginary siblings too, and a husband my mom says lol. Its because they crave the companionship, I think. At least for us only kids. Also, it gives you someone to play with when nobody will play with you. using the imagination like that is a very very good thing!

Answer 9

I had an imaginary friend when I was young. Her name was Piper, she used to give me a boost climbing trees, chase me round the garden and dig in the soil with me. I had her until I was 8. I would say it was natural as I was an only child and there were no other kids on my street to play with.

Answer 10

I used to have conversations with myself a lot. I used to pretend I was someone else interviewing my own self about my life. I always got into deep conversations that at the end I wish I couldve recorded or wrote down. I felt like at that moment I was being 100% honest with myself on how I really felt about life situations because I've always been the type to keep things to my self. Not anymore though. I talk about things to people when I feel I'm comfortable to.