Imaginary friends are an extension of pretend play, which is a normal, healthy, important part of a young child s development. Pretend play gives children a chance to learn about roles, relationships, power, and control. Pretend play also gives children a chance to work through the multitude of feelings they experience daily. Because adults make most of the decisions about children s lives, children are always looking for ways to gain some control and to deal with their feelings of helplessness. She and her imaginary friend could even devise a way to escape the doctor s office altogether.
Children often use pretend play to become the person in charge.
A child who resists naps and nighttime routines may spend all day putting his teddy down for a nap. These imaginary play outlets help children learn to cope with their lives. Pretend play usually starts when children are two, or older. Up until about five years old, the line between fantasy and reality is fuzzy. For young children, their pretend play is very real.