Does/Did your child have an imaginary friend?

[Bomper]

Dd2 had recently acquired 2 imaginary friends, Patrick and Barney!! Although she is my 3rd child, it is my first experience of this. She gets me to ask them questions, for instance, when I ask what she wants for lunch she asks me to ask them too, which I do. Am I doing the right thing? Is it common for children to have imaginary friends? How long does it usually last for? TIA

I had 3 who were all sisters from the age of about 3 to 8 years old, probably because I was almost an only child with my two sisters being much older than me. Used to drive my parents nuts, but I eventually grew out of it, although quite late . My DS who is 3 has two dog freinds, Canty and Bella who sometimes wet the bed !

Sometimes ' imaginary friends' are not imaginary at all. Children are extremely sensitive to spirits and they don't see them as anything other than that they are ' there'. I wouldn't worry about it at all, but then, I see spirits too!

DS1 had/s an imaginary friend called Charlie mouse, Charlie was around from when he was about 2 and still crops up occasionally now he is 3 and a bit. Charlie was really useful if DS1 was dawdling along, Charlie would come out and run along the pavement and DS1 would have to chase him and make sure he didn't get run over. Charlie has given over to making up stories about real friends now. DS1's friend ( just turned 2) has also got imaginary firends, little tiny bears, which he carries around. Can be a problem if he is at the playground and needs to hang on with both hands but they are full of bears.

My older brother had an imaginary friend called Ep, when I got big enough to really play with I think I and his imaginary friend sort of merged and he called me Ep.

Ah, the days of Alex the Pixie and Stripey Baby! Stripey Baby had a Stripey Daddy who lived in Portsmouth. I never got to meet my stripey son-in-law though

My nephew nearly burst into tears one day on the bus when a gentleman sat down in the seat next to him: 'he's sitting on Lollo!'

DD had two maginery friends. First one arrived before she was 2yo, another shortly after. They stayed around until part way through Reception year. I kind of miss Cotcha and Bella these days

I did question DD about them once and she was adament that they were only pretend, so I indulged.

ds1 had hum and rom. My god they were real to both of us the chaos and intrigue they caused.
dd is 5 and has little Emmy ( her name) who tells her answers to hard numeracy questions apparently
and aunties a b c d e f g
they hold lengthy conversations together.
Dds friends do not infringe into our life, whereas ds1s totally controlled it!

My DD had a whole pack of 'doggers' from about the age of 2. She ended up with about 100. Her nanny also had doggers, and the minxy little creatures still reappear (7 years later) when they write to each other - last missive DD created a strip cartoon about them going to the park and riding on ducks and coots but then being seen off by a swan.

The doggers themselves had 'peoplers', logically enough.

My son who is four has three imaginary brothers (he is an only child). They are called Ben, Hancho and Sacksy. He takes on the persona of Hancho and wears glasses when he is him!

My DD1 now 3 has an imaginary friend called 'Child.' Child first popped up a few months back when we were out for a walk and DD asked me to stop so that 'Child' could catch up. Basically 'Child' is there for DD to boss about and 'hug.' Thinking about it 'Child' came along shortly after DD2 was born.

My DS has Peter who always does everything before, better and bigger than us. He also has 5 huskies.

my ds who is now 6 1/2 has had an imaginary friend since he was about 2 - 2 1/2. Amazingly he is called MN can't quite think where he got that from

When I was a child from the ages of 3-6 I had had an 'imaginary friend' called Margaret who I had to see the the phsycologist about. After asking me to describe my friend and draw a scribbly picture of her it turned out that the girl I was describing and the name was very similair to my great grans sister who died in the 40's as a child. U may think this is a load of bollocks but I assure u it isn't there are pics of me sitting in a corner drawing and one of me holding hands with thin air walkng around the house. Even now though I do have strange little 'psycic' moments nothing to write home about but it's always been there so don't be too sure it's 'imaginary friends' ur children have.