A preschool-aged child's ability to fantasize and imagine is a sign that they are developing emotionally and intellectually. Under most circumstances, parents should play along. But it's hard to generalize. And all kids are different. Too often, parents want to analyze the fantasy.
Children use imaginary friends to work out all kinds of things.
They're fun, but they're also thinking about and wondering about things that come out in the imaginary companion. It's like mulling things over in a way, then playing it out. So I think it's a real healthy thing, to have that. Taylor also believes, based on her research, that children who have imaginary friends have an advanced social grasp and are better able to understand how people think and feel than are children who don't participate in that kind of play. It does some good for the child.