Page 30 - Waterfall City Issue 4 April 2024

Waterfall City Today’s Child

kid because I believed that they and retain knowledge faster than their her own imaginary friends:
came alive at night and I spent peers, simply because they get more • Firstly relax – as I’ve mentioned
hours twirling around the garden opportunities to ‘chat’ as they carry before, it is pretty common and
pretending to be Snow White. Seen their imaginary friends along with certainly does not mean that there is
in this light, it seems completely them wherever they go. anything ‘wrong’ with your child.
plausible that children might extend • Pay close attention to what your child
these elements of their imagination Imaginary friends also allow children says about her imaginary friends as
to include friends and confidants. Yet, to experiment with behaviours that it might give you some insight into
despite your child’s insistence that ‘Mr might be slightly out of character what your child is currently thinking
Doodle’ also have a seat at the table, for them or to express thoughts and or feeling.
studies reveal that almost all children emotions which they might find • Try not to get too involved – your
with imaginary friends are able to otherwise overwhelming. It might also child’s imaginary friend is her own
distinguish between reality and serve to empower children in that their way of interacting with and making
fantasy and know that their ‘friends’ imaginary friends might be the only sense of the world and by adding your
aren’t real. ‘people’ they are able to boss around. own ideas to her fantasy, you might
be taking away an opportunity for her
Studies have linked imaginary friends Having an imaginary friend means to develop creative thought processes
to creativity in children (apparently that you have to be able to imagine and problem-solving skills.
fiction writers are more likely than how another person might feel and act • Don’t be afraid to lay down the law
average to have had imaginary and so helps to contribute to a child’s if the imaginary friend’s demands or
friends as children) and suggest that emotional development as well as her behaviours become too disruptive.
this creativity might contribute to development and understanding of the It is important for children to
improving their problem-solving theory of thinking about thinking. understand that they are ultimately
skills as they grow up. Researchers responsible for their actions and
at the University of Manchester also It may seem like unfamiliar territory to that there are limits to acceptable
suggest that children with imaginary parents, so here are some guidelines on behaviours – Mr Doodles will simply
friends may develop language skills how to react when your child creates have to find another place to sit if all
the good seats are taken!
Pay close attention to what your child says about her

imaginary friends as it might give you some insight into Anel Annandale is an educational
psychologist. She can be contacted at:
what your child is currently thinking or feeling. anel@childpsych.co.za

28 Waterfall City Issue 4 2024