Is it normal for a child to have an invisible friend?

Having an imaginary friend is a normal and healthy part of childhood play. Having one has even shown benefits in childhood development. If your child has an imaginary friend, it’s totally OK. They can grow out of it in their own time as they stop needing the skills that their companion is teaching them.

When should I be concerned about my child’s imaginary friend?

Parents should be concerned and talk to their doctor when a child with a buddy that no one else can see shows no interest in playing with other kids, engages in hurtful or violent behavior, blames the friend for misconduct or seems to fear the imaginary friend.

How long do imaginary friends typically last?

How long do imaginary friends last? An imaginary friend can be present in a child’s live for anywhere from a few months to a few years. For most children, imaginary friends taper off by late elementary school—around age 8 or 9. For a few kids, though, invisible friends can last much longer, even into the teen years.

Is it normal for a 10 year old to have an imaginary friend?

As a child, having an imaginary friend is normal. You might assume that only very young children have imaginary friends, but research has shown that older kids have imaginary pals, too. “It’s common with children up to age 12,” says Dr. Eshleman.

Do imaginary friends really exist?

Imaginary friends are a common—and normal—manifestation for many kids across many stages of development. In fact, by age 7, 65 percent of children will have had an imaginary friend, according to a 2004 study. Imaginary friends are a symptom of developing social intelligence in a kid.

At what age is it normal to have an imaginary friend?

Kids usually start this kind of play in the late toddler or early preschool years, so imaginary friends can develop as early as two-and-a-half or three years of age. Studies have shown that kids between the ages of 3 and 5 are the most likely age group to have an imaginary friend.