The imagination of children

The imagination of children

The imagination of children often starts to develop in the second and third years of age, promoting the beginning of pretend play. Psychological studies show that approximately 75% of children experience the arrival of an imaginary friend. The imagination process helps young children learn about their surroundings, relate with others, and cope or solve problems they encounter. The invention of friends also helps children manage the changes in life, such as the birth of a sibling or encountering a new friend. According to psychological research, most children are always aware that their imaginary friends are not real. However, they appear handy for handling uncomfortable scenarios. It also serves as an outlet for emotions they do not understand or unable to express.

As the study shows, many children confide their imaginary friends, either in the form of human or an animal. Parents should find it essential to put their children in places where they can interact with peers, such as daycare or any social environment. The approach would allow for the development of their social skills. In the children’s viewpoint, a pretend friend occurs for fun, and parents should worry about such occurrences. Mostly, children with imaginary friends are trying to find a way of developing social skills. The process tends to make the children increasingly confident and knowledgeable. Further, parents need to understand their children and reflect on their thinking at a specific age. The occurrence is equally beneficial for parents to distinguish any form of learning disability or the ability of children to identify accepted behavior in family settings.