Imaginary Friends...Should I be Worried???

[Princess_Aurora]

My five-year-old DD has a couple of imaginary friends. I thought this was a perfectly normal thing for a kid to go through, especially since there's no kids around us for her to play with. But since the weather has been getting warmer we've been going to the park in the afternoons where there are plenty of kids her age to play with. Well, she'll start playing with the other kids and STILL be talking to her imaginary friends. Then today we were walking through the store and she started arguing with (what seemed to be) herself. She just started going, "Did not! Did too! Did not! Did too" over and over for no reason. And then apparently one of her imaginary friends will call her a name and she'll get mad and you'll just hear her shout out, "I told you not to call me that anymore!" She's getting to where I swear people that see us out in public are thinking that she's a crazy person!

Has anyone had any issues with their kids and imaginary friends and if so how did you deal with them???

 

[SuiteDisney]

Don't worry, it will pass. When my DS was younger, his imaginary friend was Wembley from Fraggle Rock. I use to put my DS up on my pony and he always had to make room for Wembley.

 

[poohandwendy]

Totally normal...dont worry

 

[Big V]

I remember those days! It will pass, no need to worry!

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

My 4 year old DD has an imaginary daughter named Sara Lee whom she is constantly talking to. She has plenty of playmates too, but I don't let it worry me...I still remember my imaginary friend "Karen" from when I was little.

 

[Sharby]

Princess_Aurora:

You only have to worry if it's YOU that has the imaginary friend.

 

[Sharby]

Originally posted by Sharby
Princess_Aurora:

You only have to worry if it's YOU that has the imaginary friend.

Quoting myself here!

Anyway, read my answer and thought it sounded a bit flip - when it was meant to reassure you that having imaginary friends is considered normal at your DD's age.

However, if the amount and frequency of these imaginary friend interactions bothers you (and not just because you consider it mildly embarrassing about her public behaviour) then you should consider making an appointment to discuss it with the family doctor or other health care professional. HTH.

 

[CamColt]

Id say its normal.
We started out with Ink & Ook...then Ike, Julie, Michael & Mike joined the crew. Hmmm,I havent heard about them in a while. Ill have to ask DS what they are up to.

 

[LarryE]

who says they are not really there think about it

 

[Serena]

I don't know about imaginary friends, but maybe you can tell your daughter that they can't go to the store with you two anymore because they are too noisy.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

That's for the reassurance. I remember having imaginary friends at her age also but I just never remember arguing very loudly with them or being called names by them.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Vince and Natalie both had them and Marie and I sort of missed them when they left, we knew they were growing up. We still talk about them with them every so oftne and smile. Nice memories. Enjoy, Aurora.

 

[KimR]

When my oldest DD was 5, she had an imaginary friend who was an aardvark named Streamline (yes, she has quite an imagination!). He was very mischeivous, always getting into trouble. Seems she was always arguing with him, correcting him, etc. Then one day I noticed she didn't mention him anymore and she told me quite matter-of-factly that Streamline died...and that was the end of that. I actually missed him . My younger DDs imaginary friend was Gaston from Beauty of Beast and he stayed with us for quite a while. Actually, I think Gaston left us around the time her baby sister was born..don't know if it's related or not.

Kim

 

[FOJMO]

You only have to start worrying if the friend(s) start answering BACK!

Just kidding, this is purely a sign of a great imagination! Our DD (17) had one imaginary friend, whose name was "Two Friends" -- but it was ONE "person". Our DD is an only child and, while I know that these imaginary friends are not limited to children with no siblings, I think it gives them a friend who is always with them! Our DD still remembers "Two Friends", even though he/she/they are long gone!

P.S. I really think I could like the friend named Sara Lee -- sounds yummy!!

 

[shelle94]

My friend was named Jodi. He lived in a tree outside my bedroom window. When we were in the process of moving from Houston back to upstate NY we stopped at a gas station. Jodi got out to go to the bathroom and Dad took off without him! I remember screaming and crying to go back, but he wouldn't. I never "saw" Jodi again. I was heartbroken for quite awhile. To this day I am still mad that he didn't go back just to humor me.

Really, I think this is normal. I was also an only child until my sister came along when I was 6.

I'm sure she will outgrow it. Or you can just leave her friend somewhere.

Michelle

 

[Colleen A.]

My girls never had imaginary friends but my son did (maybe because he didn't have a brother? ) His friend's name was Jakey. Jakey did all sorts of cool things....rode motorcycles, flew jets, had a bigfoot truck, jumped out of airplanes...
The ultimate cool big brother I guess you could say! Jakiey was around for about 3 yrs. (ages 2 - 5). Then he just kind of left. I asked Kirk about Jakey a couple years ago. I was sad to learn that he didn't remember Jakey anymore! (or maybe he thought it was uncool to of had an imaginary friend and wouldn't admit to it! ) It was a fun time in his life and Jakey is missed...at least by me!

 

[Mskanga]

Ask my DD1 about "David" , I swear to you that at one point I thought my house was haunted and my DD could see ghosts , LOL.
If I gave her a drink , she would ask for 2, David was thirsty too , but the good one was one day when she was sitting on the couch watching TV , I went to sit down too and she yelled at me , scaring the life out of me , telling me that I just satn down on top of David.
Apparently he went away but then Sasky came along for DD2, she's still around but not too often.

Bottom line: It's completely normal.

 

[KathyTX]

We used to have to buckle DS's imaginary friend Chase in the car before we could leave the driveway.

I frequently sat on Chase or bumped into him. Late-night conversations with Chase made it hard for DS to go to sleep occasionally.

At dinner, we always had to have an extra chair for Chase. Although I would sometimes put a plate of imaginary food on the table for Chase at home, I drew the line at ordering for him at restaurants!

Chase was around mostly when DS was 3-5. Haven't seen him for a long time, now.

 

[Pebblszzz]

I don't remember my imaginary friend's name, but I do remember how real he/she was to me. Who knows, maybe kids have a way of seeing into another dimension....ok, buy that if you're a sci-fi geek, I guess.

Anyhow, my friend was THERE. I remember that much. I've heard members of my family tell stories about me and my friend, and how I wouldn't eat dinner unless Mom set a place for them, too. I wish my mom was around, so I could ask her when this friend disappeared...

I'd say not to worry, but I'm not a mommy or a child psychologist.

But I think I grew up pretty normal.

 

[tc]

Yes, Kimmi had an imaginary friend, Gina. She went everywhere with us. She ate with us, watched tv, went to bed, took baths. Then, one day, she moved away. No reason. Kimmi just got up on day and said Gina move to Salt Lake City. I didn't even know she knew there was a Salt Lake City. Never heard from her again. We still laugh about Gina to this day and Kimmi is 20.