At what age do you think kids can have an imaginary friend? My sister-in-law baby sat our 2 and 1/2 year old the other night. When we got home she told my husband and I that our son had been talking to himself a lot. So I observed him over the next couple of days and sure enough he is carrying on a conversation; telling "someone" to "be quiet bc he is coloring" or to "sit here so you can see better". I asked him if he was talking to someone and he just smiled at me. Do you think it is possible for him to have an imaginary friend this early? He is a smart boy and is an independent little guy. At what age did you or your children have an imaginary friend?
Dude, my kid talks to everything!! She talks to blankie (her best friend), her animals, her stuffies, her blankets, etc. This is very, very normal!
my 3 (almost 4) year old has had an imaginary friend "ink" for about a year:) he is starting to grow out of it a little, but still talks to himself much more than my older son did at this age. i've never really had to accommodate ink as he will ride on the roof or sleep in our tree (he's very daring:) but i've spent much time explaining that ink does not know everything in response to "ink told me". i think they have imaginary friends at this age because they want to interact with someone else but just don't know how yet. that's what it seems my little guy does. he wants the friendships that his older brother has. we all really really enjoy this phase-it's often a great way to find out what they're thinking. enjoy!
My mom says I had an imaginary friend at age 3 so 2.5 doesn't seem that early. My 4.5 year old son blames all the things he does wrong on his "evil twin." With my son his social awareness didn't seem to kick in until between 3 and 3.5.
mine never had imaginary friends but my 2 1/2 yr old babbles to himself all the time. what he is saying I have no idea. and who he is talking to I have no idea either I wouldnt worry alot about it.
My daughter's friends arrived a few months after her 2nd bday.
My 9 year old is still talking to himself only he re-enacts Star Wars and Narnia et al. He started at 3ish.
This is very normal and you may have to make some concessions for the friends in the near future, like setting a place for dinner, arranging the car seats so friend can sit by your boy, kissing friend goodnight too.
Absolutely!!! To make you feel better...they say that having an imaginary friend is a sign of intelligence and all sorts of other positive things!! My oldest child ( who is now a lawyer and a fabulous Mom to her own little 3 year old budding genius!!) had not one but two imaginary friends. We still joke about "Buuuh and Zuuuh"...her 2 buddies who accompanied her everywhere!!! I had to leave room for them in the back seat of the car, make sure that they had their coats and hats when it was cold outside, ask them what THEY wanted for dinner as we served dinner at night....lol. We never did know exactly WHAT they were...she never told us and now she doesn't remember...but they were her friends and confidants for several years.
I think it is a safe way to "take charge" of their world at this young age. He is "interacting" with those imaginary friends and "practicing" so that he is more comfortable in social situations.
Don't worry...maybe YOU have a budding genius on your hands like we did so many years ago!!!
My little man had an imaginary friend at around 3 who he talked about, and to, all the time. He always had an amusing story to tell us about "David". he was around for quite a while, a few months, then he just stopped talking about him.
I wouldn't worry! Mine started around 3 and was really into it for a while. He's now 4 and doesn't talk as much to his imaginary friend...just likes to pretend a lot.
