How do you deal with imaginary friends?

Elaine - posted on 09/25/2011

My 3 three year also has a imaginary friend, as did my son son when he was her age. Just go with it, It is a great form of imaginary play and role play. I was once told that it showed Intelligence. Not sure if that is the case, but my son was 1 1/2 years ahead in computers by the time he was in reception and my daughter has just started nursery this september but is already in the the group of children that have been there 2 terms already.

Skye - posted on 09/20/2011

My three-year-old also wants his imaginary friend(s) to come along or do whatever we're doing. I just agree and remind the "friend" what to do (if we're getting into the car, to buckle up, or at home, help clean up the toys, or help set the table, etc). It's also great for me to redirect his behavior by saying that so-and-so is doing the right thing, maybe he could do what the friend is doing.

The friend of friends are usually from a book we're reading or something he's watched recently. For example, we are reading some of the "Magic Tree House" books and suddenly Jack and Annie are accompanying us. Or, after we watched the movie "Tangled" it was Rapunzel the princess or Eugene.

Your question is, how do you deal with it. I would just agree with it, when it's in context...3 year-olds have great imaginations. I think it's really fun.

Lori - posted on 09/06/2011

My 3 year old has imaginary friends too. She tells me about playing with them. She has 2 "friends" that she mentions quite often - Hodgey and Dodgey. Sometimes they need to be included when we do things, other times she doesn't mention them. I try to treat them as I would any of her friends. When she tells me stories about them and their adventures, I listen and ask questions. If she wants them included when we have a tea party, we get out an extra setting for them. However, she has not ever insisted on bringing them with us anywhere. Imaginary friends at this age are quite normal. We encourage all sorts of pretend play and imagination - why not a friend too. As long as its not interfering with her playing with real friends too, I see no problem in letting her have her imaginary friends.