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

Research has shown that it's as common for school-age children at 6 and 7 to have imaginary friends as it is for preschoolers to have them. There's no general set age when your child should give up their imaginary companions. Older children are more aware of social judgments and therefore less likely to be open about their fantasy friends, but many still engage in role playing using created companions, and that's a healthy, developmentally normal thing. After all, many adults have rich fantasy lives; why wouldn't our children?