3yo doesn't have an imaginary friend, she has an imaginary LIFE.

[WD41]

Is this normal?

DD is 3.5 and she talks incessantly and in great detail about her "real" life. For example she lives in a different house with Minne Mouse (which is real whereas the house we actually live in is apparently pretend), drives a black Volvo, has a job (doctor at the local hospital), she goes on holidays, eats out in restaurants, goes to supermarkets etc etc. It really is constant.

It is cute (albeit tiring to listen to all the time) but I'm also a bit worried that perhaps she is unhappy in some way, to have created this whole life where she lives as an independent adult. Do other people's children do this?

No idea but am interested. Hopefully someone will come along soon

Yes, Dd1 did this a lot. She's 11 now and barely remembers any of it!

Dd still does at 4 she has another Mummy and Daddy and a baby sister and a dog called BobBon.

She often tells me about "at BonBons house....."

Her other Mummy is a doctor

Her other Daddy gets lots of tummy aches.

I quite enjoy it

My (now) 4 year old spent most his year of being 3 as a farmer - he described in great detail which fields his animals and crops would be in, how many cows, sheep, horses etc he would have, what crops he would grow, how he'd get the milk to market, what his farmhouse was like etc. he got quite obsessive about it all.

We live in a town, but then went to a big agricultural show where alongside the tractors/cows/sheep etc, he saw stunt motorcycles in the main ring, and he totally forgot about the farm (after obsessing about it for months!) and decided that's what he wants to do......! I'm sure it's a phase which will pass. My DS does have a very vivid imagination which has caused problems with nightmares, but I love how inventive he is.

Haha
Ds who is now 25 had a job at 5. He played football for Sunderland at the weekend but hence as a car mechanic during the week.
He was married to one of his class mates - Zoe pepper she was called
They lived in my house apparently and she wore my clothes
He had a different name too - he was called Gary

I describe DD1(6) as overseeing her play world whereas DD2 (3) lives in her play world. They both have brilliant imaginations but put them to use in very different ways. DD22 can often insist the whole family stays in their given role all day.

My son is 3.5 and is very much like this his name is lenny in his world plays a guitar and used to bed a builder before making it big!

I don't know how common it is, but there is a 'condition' (for which there are web sites, but some a bit freaky) called "Maladaptive Daydreaming". I think it has only been recognised for ten years or so, and when I last checked, isn't recognised by the NHS.

I think it is only people comparing their experiences via Internet that has revealed it's prevalence.

Thanks all, glad to hear it's normal!

This just reminded me that I haven't heard DS mention his 'rainbow house' and his pet dog, cat, rabbit and the pictures on the walls etc, for a while. So, I just asked him and, apparently, he can't go there any more as he had 'bad next doors' who knocked his bricks down with a hammer! I guess that means he grew out of it :)

I could've written this! SO glad it's not just mine!

My DS is 4.6, btw. A year ago, everything was 'at his rainbow house' or he was worn out because he'd been painting it, or had seen such and such on tv there etc.

ds is almost 5 and has an imaginary grandad. I think he may be influenced by grandpa in my pocket. grandad really pisses us both off: everything he does/has is better than here and I'm starting to grit my teeth every time I hear "my grandad..."

My 3.5yo spends roughly 80% of her life being a cat...

ferguson that 'condition' is called 'childhood' :)

It's the same as having an imaginary friend except her imagination skills are very good for her age. Just enjoy it as it will be gone one day.