Discipline Bad Friends Punishment Spanking Temper Tantrums Parenting Tips Attention Seeking Death in the Family Divorce Difficult Children Homework Imaginary Friends Self Confidence Self Image Single Parents TV Preschoolers Bedtime Is Preschool Necessary? Sibling Jealousy Starting Preschool Teenagers Teenagers and Privacy Teenagers and Stealing
Books Adoption Babies & Toddlers Baby Names Child Care Discipline Emotions & Feelings Fertility Health & Nutrition Humor Morals & Responsibility Pregnancy & Childbirth School-Age Children Single Parents Special Needs Teenagers Twins & Multiples
Links Family & Parenting Downloads Parenting eBooks |
Imaginary FriendsMany children have an imaginary friend, especially between the ages of three and five. Because they do not understand why their child is creating an imaginary person, it is not at all unusual for parents to be concerned. Many parents end up feeling frustrated at their child, and can worry about whether it might be unhealthy. As a loving and caring parent, the first step is to understand that it is quite common and normal for children to have an imaginary friend, or even perhaps more than one imaginary friend. You also should realize that it's perfectly safe and healthy. Imaginary friends can in fact be an important part of growing up. It's an important creative aspect of a child. And the chances are, even if you do not remember having one yourself, you probably did. Part of this reason for this is that it is very hard for a young child to explain themselves or communicate well with adults. The imaginary friend is thus used as a gateway of communication between parent and child. The use of an imaginary friend can help your child to deal with emotions and problems which he would otherwise struggle to handle. For example, think about when your child is feeling lonely, bored, or simply in need of attention, particularly when you are not around. These emotions can make any child, especially a child under the age of five, feel upset. The imaginary friend is used by the child to help deal with these feelings. An imaginary friend is the method a young child can use to handle the emotions that come with changing school, moving house, or the arrival of a new baby who is getting all the attention now. Imaginary friends are also used for other types of emotional support too. If a child feels unaccepted or over-controlled by his parents, then he may invent an imaginary person who he pretends treats him as the way he wished mommy and daddy treated him Another example is fear. Many children use imaginary friends or other imaginary situations to overcome their fears. For example, a child might create an imaginary animal such as a dog, to help him overcome a fear of real dogs. The most important thing to remember when considering this issue is that children are not like adults. Because they do not have the life experience of adults, they use different methods to cope with uneasy feelings. Once you understand that, you can and should be able embrace your child's imaginary friend, and find out more about by asking questions. You might be surprised at just much you can learn about your child as a result. Related Links: |
|
Disclaimer: This website and its content, is intended for general information only. The website and its content, is NOT intended as health or medical advice, and is NOT intended as a substitute for advice from a properly qualified medical professional. The website and its content, was NOT written by a doctor or other medical professional or nutritionist or fitness instructor, etc. Information on this site is the personal opinions of the authors only, and has NOT been reviewed or vetted by a doctor or other medical professional or nutritionist or fitness instructor, etc. Information on this site has NOT scientifically tested or validated. You are STRONGLY advised to consult your doctor if you (or your children) need health or medical advice, have or suspect that you (or your children) may have an illness or disease or medical condition, or if you (or your children) need any form of diagnosis or treatment. You are also STRONGLY advised to consult your doctor, before taking any action, if you are considering any type of action (including but not limited to: home remedies, lifestyle changes, home environment changes, dietary changes, changes to your exercise regimen, etc.) which may affect your (or your child's) health, or which is intended to prevent, cure or treat any medical condition. The owners of this website are NOT responsible for, have NOT reviewed, do NOT necessarily agree with, and have no opinion on, third party websites which may appear in links or advertisements (including but not limited to: banner adverts, Google AdSense, or a text link). If a third party website is linked, advertised or described on this website, that is NOT intended to mean, and should NOT be construed as meaning, that the owners of this website endorse, agree with, or have any opinion on that website or its content. In general, we advise you to use do due diligence, use good judgement, and always consult your doctor regarding medical and health matters. Copyright © 2007-2025, Answers 2000 Limited CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE,COMES FROM AMAZON EU S.à r.l. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. Disclosure: Our company's websites' content (including this website's content) includes advertisements for our own company's websites, products, and services, and for other organization's websites, products, and services. In the case of links to other organization's websites, our company may receive a payment, (1) if you purchase products or services, or (2) if you sign-up for third party offers, after following links from this website. Unless specifically otherwise stated, information about other organization's products and services, is based on information provided by that organization, the product/service vendor, and/or publicly available information - and should not be taken to mean that we have used the product/service in question. Additionally, our company's websites contain some adverts which we are paid to display, but whose content is not selected by us, such as Google AdSense ads. For more detailed information, please see Advertising/Endorsements Disclosures Our sites use cookies, some of which may already be set on your computer. Use of our site constitutes consent for this. For details, please see Privacy. Click privacy for information about our company's privacy, data collection and data retention policies, and your rights. Contact Us Privacy Terms of Use Advertising/Endorsements Disclosures In Association With Amazon.com Answers 2000 Limited is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. In Association With Amazon.co.uk Answers 2000 Limited is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk. As an Amazon Associate, our company earns from qualifying purchases. Amazon, the Amazon logo, Endless, and the Endless logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. All third party content and adverts are copyright of their respective owners. |