Why Your Child Having an Imaginary Friend Is Actually a Really Great Thing

Absolutely not, according to the vast majority of research. Even if your kid's imaginary friend is hard for you to process (like a ghost, angel, or monster), the experience of having that friend is almost always a positive one for your child. Most kids who have imaginary companions are totally aware that they're engaging in pretend play (i.e. they don't really think their invisible buddy is real) and are gaining valuable social and personal skills from their interactions, while showing off their creativity.