Playing with the imaginary friend

Playing with the imaginary friend

They come in as many ways as imagination children have: they are imaginary friends, those creatures that are born in the minds of little ones as mere playmates, although it is true that, sometimes, they can also have a guardian role and tell them how they should behave.

When and how the imaginary friend appears

The imaginary friend knocks on the door to play usually between two or three years and accompanies the child's games until the age of eight, when he begins to go to school and has fully developed language and memory. Some experts point out that imaginary friends often prefer only children, children, more sensitive to fantasy or with artistic vocations.

Although for children the imaginary friend seems as real as if it were flesh and blood, some studies indicate that many children can understand that their friend does not really exist. In that case, the child is aware of the world around him, but it is difficult for him to fully understand it as it is, and he prefers to invent one where everything is possible, exploiting his stage of magical thinking.

As long as the imaginary friend does not interfere in the child's relationship with those around him, away from his daily tasks or become aggressive, it can be useful for both parents and children.

Through the imaginary friend, the child expresses his thoughts, both positive and negative. You can express, for example, your fear of being left alone or of entering school. Learning to "read" through the imaginary friend can be like having an open book of the child's thoughts and even serving as an instrument to help him overcome his fears. For example: if your imaginary friend manages to go to the dentist without crying, the child will feel able to do so, which will strengthen his self-esteem and confidence.

In this way, the imaginary friend can serve as a messenger between the parents and their children's feelings. During childhood, not everything is expressed verbally and watching children's games turns out to be a useful tool to know what they want to communicate. When the imaginary friend appears, do not force your child to get rid of him: just observe and keep an eye on the information he can reveal.

Another advantage of having an imaginary friend seems to have been demonstrated by a study from La Trobe University in Australia and the University of Manchester in England. According to this research, those who have had an imaginary friend in their childhood, in adulthood tend to be people with more creativity, empathy and communication skills. Children with imaginary friends have a broader and more creative vocabulary since creating both parts in a dialogue develops communication skills. In addition, they are more empathetic, since childhood they have been able to understand someone else's point of view at a deeper level through their imaginary friend.

Thus, perhaps the trick is knowing how to become a "friend" of the imaginary friend and understand more closely the imaginative world of children.