Caregivers’ Tips for Handling Imaginary Friends
Children with imaginary friends are fairly common, and these friends can be as real to them as a flesh-and-blood sibling, often even more beloved, because they are the child’s best friend too. The average age for children to develop imaginary friends is about 3 to4 years of age, once social interaction skills and imagination develop. Many parents find it worrying that their child is talking to an imaginary friend, some view it as a negative remark on their parenting abilities, and some will try to punish the child to prevent him or her from seeming ‘crazy’. However it is important to understand the reasons for imaginary friends appearing.
