Imaginary friends

[kristen821]

My dd3.5 has imaginary family. It started when she started school in November. At first it was cute and funny, but now it is starting to worry me. She tells stories as if she is actually believing them. Her stories never change if you ask her about them later. If you are repeating one of her stories to someone else and mess up part she will correct you. I have had to tell people that she doesn't have family members by that name. The stories are so realistic. Even my sister thought she had a cousin name cakie (the only unusual name)

Here is her family

Cakie - her cousin sometimes she's nice but she is usually mean. She punched dd and now is not invited to her birthday party, but cakie's mom anna (who is new to her story) is nice and is invited. Then we have Angela who is her sister and was away in highschool but is now (as of yesterday) in jail with her mother. About a month ago she mentioned to my mother and father something about her Grandpa who was shot in the head by police. Now we never talk about being arrested or police shooting people and I just don't get where a 3 year old can come up with these stories.

Does anyone have kids with imaginary friends? Is this something that I should be worried about? Kids play cops and robbers all the time do you think she can be getting these ideas from school or her friends?

 

[cynsaun]

I would talk to the teachers at her school and see if there is a child that has had trauma of some sort and talks about it to your daughter, or is a troublemaker and putting these things into her head.

 

[minkydog]

Totally normal. Not to worry. She'll grow out of it. In the meantime, cancel the psychiatrist and try to not to sit on Cakie.

 

[icebrat001]

One of my students has an imaginary friend, my student is 4 years old and she is very protective over her new little imaginary friend.

Here's her story.

Zero is 4 years old and has no family so she (student) must take care of Zero. Zero is afraid of eating different foods and is afraid of heights and only likes one swing and hates boys.

The other day we were at the park and one of the younger kids sat on her imaginary friend and she darn near tried to kill the friend.

You cannot confront her about her friend Zero and make any suggestions. We think she is using Zero as a way to act out things that she doesn't get away with.

 

[CEDmom]

As long as she isn't forgoing her real life and constantly living in her imaginary world it's a normal healthy part of child development.

 

[kristen821]

Totally normal. Not to worry. She'll grow out of it. In the meantime, cancel the psychiatrist and try to not to sit on Cakie.

 

[Kaycee]

Both of my sons had imaginary friends with intricate, ongoing stories. They included lots of detail, and they never forgot the story lines - they just added on to them. They would incorporate any and everything they heard and saw into the stories - things from school, church, playing with neighborhood kids and cousins, things they heard adults talking about, things they saw on TV or in movies - you name it. Anything was fair game for the next imaginary plot twist!

It sounds like you have a very creative, imaginative daughter. Both of my guys were that way, and they still are. Now, in their teens, they are both creative writers and talented artists.

Don't worry - just sit back and enjoy your daughter's wonderful imagination!

 

[kristen821]

As long as she isn't forgoing her real life and constantly living in her imaginary world it's a normal healthy part of child development.

No she has a normal life too, but that cakie is always messing up my dd's room!

 

[DisneyTeacher]

My son has 3 imaginary brothers. They joined our family when he was about 3.5, at first it was just one brother then grew to 3 shortly. The one brother used to go with us when ever we left home, at restaurants he would remind me to say we had 4 people in our family, not 3. For his "star of the week" wall at school in pre-K he said we had 4 people in the family, when I asked him who the 4 people were he name the three of us and "Jim", the imaginary friend. His teacher was standing by us and said that's exactly what he told his class.

He was ready to let them go last year but quickly changed the story so "Jim" didn't die. We don't hear much about his brothers these days but just last night he informed us that his brothers weren't real.

 

[daisyduck123]

She's only what...3 and a half?

Of course it's normal...now relax & go have some fun with Cakie & the rest of the gang.

 

[kristen821]

You guys are making me feel so much better. Thank you!

 

[kristen821]

She's only what...3 and a half?

Of course it's normal...now relax & go have some fun with Cakie & the rest of the gang.

I would if they would stay out of jail and stop messing my dd's room!

 

[laurie31]

Totally normal and considered by many to be a sign of intelligence. Not that only gifted children have imaginary friends of course.

I remember having imaginary friends when I was preschool-aged. I even made them wear seatbelts when they came with us in the car!

Laurie

 

[kristen821]

Totally normal and considered by many to be a sign of intelligence. Not that only gifted children have imaginary friends of course.

I remember having imaginary friends when I was preschool-aged. I even made them wear seatbelts when they came with us in the car!

Laurie

I hope this is a sign of intelligence! Something good better come out of her scaring the heck out of me!

 

[Auggietina]

My dd had an imaginary friend "Auggietina" She started to come around when dd was 2.5. Auggietina even graduated from Pre-School with dd and had her name printed in the program with the rest of the kids.

The story of Auggietina and her family changed from day to day. But let me tell you... everyday was Auggietina's Birthday which of course meant a big birthday bash to attend.

When ever I would talk to Auggietina, my dd would look at me funny and say "You know Mom, Auggietina isn't real"

 

[kristen821]

When ever I would talk to Auggietina, my dd would look at me funny and say "You know Mom, Auggietina isn't real"

 

[Pea-n-Me]

OK, I'm reluctant to post and I don't want to scare the OP. But I often wonder if there's more to these imaginary friends than we know, particularly when they're so detailed from children who are very young.

With that said, has anyone else noticed what looks like an orb above the OP's dd's head in her signature photo (at first I thought she had Mickey ears on)?

 

[irishbosoxfan]

When my oldest son was about 2 he had an "imaginary friend" named JJ JOE JOE we were used to JJ being around and my son playing with him even though my nephew was always there for my son to play. Markey and JJ used to play with Matchbox cars at the kiddie table all the time and carry on "conversations" Markey would say something-stop-listen for a reply while looking directly across the table-then say something else to answer whatever it was he heard from JJ-----Like I said we were used to it even when he went to bed at night he would say "Night JJ I love you"---Well a while later my grandmother was downstairs visiting my parents and decided to come upstairs to visit us---We went into the living room and were sitting on the couch talking and Markey was at his table playing when he went into a conversation with JJ----my grandmother sat there and stared at him then whipped her head around and asked my mom and I if we had taught him that---He was sitting there repeating "Peter Piper"---yes I mean repeating--he would say a couple of words then look across the table and say a couple of more words-----My mom looked at me and I looked at her and both us shook our heads and said no---my grandmother looked at my son again then jumped up off the couch and headed for the door all the while screaming about how she was never coming back to my house again----Well when my mom had her downstairs she asked her what the h"ll was going on and my grams was like"who taught you "Peter Piper" and my was like I dont know---so my grams made her call my uncles and ask them and both replied-"UNCLE JOE"---It took my mom a few to put together JJ JOE JOE with Uncle Joe but when she did she called me and told me what was going on------Well JJ went away not to long after that,Markey told me JJ told him goodbye---ZTo this day I'm convinced that JJ was my Uncle Joe who had passed away when I was verry little and that he wanted to let my grams know he was still thinking of her(his sister)---Markey is now 14 and still remembers JJ.

 

[GJM]

My DS has an imaginary brother "Joey" He will only mention him once in a while. The first time he talked about "Joey" I was like who is that some kid in your class? He said no - my imaginary brother!

 

[Sparx]

Totally normal. I had more than a couple. I still remember a lot of the stories too! I wouldn't worry. She'll grow out of it. Who knows, maybe she'll be an author, someday.
Just don't sit on her!!