Why Imaginary Friends Are a Normal Part of Childhood Development

In an amiable TED-Ed lesson directed and animated by Caitlin McCarthy, narrator Alexandra Panzer explains how and why imaginary friends are a normal part of childhood development.

Some parents worry about their child having playmates they can't see or hear but imaginary companions are a normal part of psychological development for many kids.

There are a number of reasons why a child might invent an imaginary friend, such as looking for someone to play with or having an active imagination.

Imaginary friends are typically created by children roughly 3 to 4 years old who lack siblings of a similar age. These kids tend to be socially outgoing- they like company, so they invent more of it. ...One study even found these kids were better storytellers, suggesting that imagining friends might help with linguistic and cognitive development.

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