Imaginary Friends?

[ra11en]

So my DD (almost 3 yr) has had an imaginary friend for about a year now. He takes baths with her, she puts a chair up at the table for him to eat breakfast with her every now and then, she plays games with him every day, etc. I know not to worry about it, from reading and our pediatrician it is perfectly normal in her development. She makes real friends easily, and has a number of 'best friends' from daycare. It is absolutely the cutest darn thing! Did I happen to mention that her imaginary friend is Boogeyman? No joke. Monsters are mean, she doesn't like them, but Boogeyman is her little buddy.

Any other LOs with imaginary friends out there?

[angel25705]

Deleting all my posts because of the sicko wanting pictures of our kids.

[H.Starr]

Roman's too young to have one, but I did when I was little.
She was only at my Grandma's house though. She lived down the street and would come over to play when I was there. Her name was Betty Lou and she had brown hair down to her waist and always had it in a braid.

[ra11en]

Never wondered how long she would keep her pet Boogeyman. Didn't think it would last a year, let alone a few more. Interesting.

I didn't have one as a kid that I remember, so I'm kinda flying blind. Its hilarious listening to her play with this imaginary friend.

[H.Starr]

I don't remember how long mine lasted. Not too long I don't think. One day she just stopped coming over to play and that was it. I'll have to ask my Grandma how long it lasted, but I really feel like it was only a few months.

[KelleyGirl]

My 7 yr. old soon-to-be stepson has one, excpet it is a whole army of miniture troopers he says. The only time he ever mentions them though is at stores because, according to him, that's where the troopers begins wars and fight the bad guys. I personally don't think it's that cute. I think his imaginary friend is an excuse he uses to justify behavior he knows is not allowed (ie: making guns with his hands in stores and pretending to shoot things).

I'm fine with imaginary friends at an appropriate age (like your little one, which BTW I think it's hilarious her friend is the boogeyman, too cute!) and when the friend is a good influence. I love the imagination of imaginary friends and expressing yourself, but when do you sort of draw the line? And how? I'm new to this whole thing.

[RImommy]

Spencer is not old enough to have one either, atleast one that I would be aware of. But, I think it is hilarious that she named her friend boogeyman! If she ever has a run in with another kid and his imaginary friend, she's covered!

[ra11en]

I think if Boogeyman ever influenced Alena to behave in a way that is not acceptable to us I would have to draw the line. To date, for us, he has been a very positive influence. If she's stalling to get in the bath, I can tell her Boogeyman is already in there waiting and without fail she heads to the tub. Not sure how I would handle it at an older age as an excuse for bad behavior. I'm relatively certain I wouldn't allow it. I would discipline as I always do and not let it be his excuse. Be it not going with you next time (even if you have to tell him that means a babysitter while you go anyway), or taking away privelages. Whatever your discipline is.

[KelleyGirl]

Thanks ra11en! I appreciate the encouragement. We've talked with him about it, and he knows it isn't acceptable, but we haven't firmly put a displine in place for it. We'll have to agree on one and, hopefully, turn those imginary friends into positive influences or have them be gone for good.

[APEMBERTON]

ra11en- That's really cute!! I didn't have any imaginary friends, but my sister did. My mom said she brought him EVERYWHERE with us. They even had to get a table for 5 when they went out to eat so he would have his own seat...too funny!!