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Original poster

imaginary friends

23 replies

ilovemydogandmrobama · 26/04/2010 19:13

DD (3.9) has a very active imagination. She has a lot of imaginary friends, but probably a few that make regular appearances. They are all quite friendly types, although she does need to send Millie, upstairs sometimes to calm down . For the most part, her imaginary friends are trouble free, other than once when she 'forgot' one from nursery school and we had to go back. Oh, and they all speak in her made up language, 'Puka Bala Bala' and DD will chat happily for about half an hour making up her language, and translating

None of her other friends have imaginary friends, so am wondering if this is 'normal?'

OP posts:
PixieOnaLeaf · 26/04/2010 19:15

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lukewarmcupoftea · 26/04/2010 19:48

Oh that was handy - just came on here to post about the same thing! DD1 is 2.9 and for the first time decided that Peppa and George Pig were joining us today. I've had to move things off chairs so they can sit down to breakfast, make them toast, clean their faces, explain that Peppa was dead as she was walking in the road and got squashed by a car, and no the doctor couldn't make her better because that's what dead is (she got reincarnated later, don't worry). Etc.

So that's normal then and doesn't mean she's 'working out' issues or whatever? Good good.

PixieOnaLeaf · 26/04/2010 19:55

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CharlieBoo · 26/04/2010 19:58

Oh yes supposed to be very good sign of vivid imagination etc. My ds had one at a similar age, maybe at about 3, 3.5 years. There were 3 of them but one was the main one and he was always naughty, my ds used to strap him in the buggy when we were out as he kept running off! Lol, we used to get some strange looks. if anything went missing, it was 'ebbon', he would have full on conversations with him. Eventually after the age of 4 off they went and never mentioned them again. Preschool commented it at the time saying it was some sort of sign of bright children, not sure about that but it was very very funny at the time.

lukewarmcupoftea · 26/04/2010 20:11

Pixie - good tip, thanks. I was a bit today at some of the requests, but going with the flow as the rest of the day was going so hideously. Will be tougher after I've had some sleep tonight!

HumanAtLeast · 26/04/2010 20:15

DD has had lots. Her first and still a firm favourite is Alex who appeared when she was just 2. He goes to school a lot and is tired all the time. There's an elephant that lives in an apple tree and eats peanuts and gravel. Sheeva is a pink ant (and runs away a lot, fairly difficult to find is an imaginary pink ant) and is from Sheeva Land, only accessible by boat. Blomphus is a bear who is a coward and lives in a cave with only natural light and hopes of rescue from a brave knight. Job is just a blob and is neither use nor ornament.

DD is 2.11. I presume it can only get worse.

tartyhighheels · 26/04/2010 20:18

Ours is called Derek! sometimes he comes for lunch, other times he is naughty and goes on the step! He is older and than her and should know better (dd's words not mine)

Derek really loves flat eggs (fried eggs) and gluten free pizza - he also has coeliacs just like her.

lukewarmcupoftea · 26/04/2010 20:19

Human, your DD sounds absolutely gorgeous (and quite hard work!).

feedthegoat · 26/04/2010 20:36

We have had a few over the years. Ds is now 4.5 and started before he was 3. The first few were characters he was already familiar with such as Zurg from Toy Story.

However, we have has a skeleton called Ray hanging around since last year. He is apparently (man city)blue and has a baby called raysh. I asked about mum but according to ds she died. They live in space but have frequent sleepovers. They have recently been stranded by a space volcano (his cousin was stuck in poland visiting her grandparents!).

Ray is a very busy man. As well a being a single parent, he works in a factory, drives trains and works in B&Q amongst other things!

I also don't stand for any nonsense so imaginary friends no longer get blamed for any wrong doings! I think it is harmless enough and certainly encourages story telling!

HumanAtLeast · 26/04/2010 20:45

Oh no, she's not hard work at all. She's a joy.

lukewarmcupoftea · 26/04/2010 20:45

Ah, they all sound fab! So how far did you all go in encouraging (for want of a better word) the imaginary friends? Did you initiate any chat about it, or just engaged fully when your DC talked about them, or were fairly non committal about them? Having only had 12 hours experience of this, am a bit bemused by the whole thing tbh. Although am constantly astounded by the world they live in (e.g. Uncle X lives in the tree in the garden with the squirrels apparently).

Ivykaty44 · 26/04/2010 20:47

yes, there is evena film made about them..

i had three Ogaley, loop and Peter, my dad drove off down the road once with loop still outside holding on to the wing mirror, he had to stop the car to let loop get in but dad had driven about 50 miles before I could get him to stop

lukewarmcupoftea · 26/04/2010 20:48

Human - sorry, I didn't mean horrible hard work, just hard work keeping up with that lot!

Joolyjoolyjoo · 26/04/2010 20:48

Well, my dd (4) had an imaginary alter-ego (the bad dd2, apparently!) who she eventually killed off- she went on holiday and got eaten by a shark

We haven't had any imaginary friends since (or none that want to be friends with dd2, ittle wonder!)

HumanAtLeast · 26/04/2010 20:52

Oh don't worry. I was being mildly sarcastic anyway. The is marginally forced at times.

I just talk to her about them when she talks about them. Just treat it as a normal conversation.

I had imaginary friends too. Bruvva the Inspector and Miss Impossible Pants who was v naughty. They were real, so, so real. I can see them still when I think back. They were my first love. My brother's imaginary friend was a penpal.

Takver · 26/04/2010 20:55

I would say (a) normal, and (b) very useful

dd has a collection of invisible (note, not imaginary) dogs, whose names have changed over the years. She used to also have an invisible shetland pony called Susie, and would happily 'trot out' her pony when we needed to move along faster when shopping . . .

Hers came along when she was about 2.5 (as a result of someone asking her if she had an invisible dog on the end of a piece of baler twine she was dragging around the yard) - they fell away a bit when she was about 6.5, but interestingly they reappeared a few months later, & we still hear about them from time to time (she's just 8 now).

They were really helpful when she was smaller as a way to entertain her when we were out & had no toys, a little gentle suggestion would often set her off 'playing with' her various animals.

maresedotes · 26/04/2010 20:55

It is perfectly normal (and I think rather lovely). My DD1 had several imaginary friends, some with made up names and some with 'proper' names. At one point she had eight and I had to clean their teeth and brush their hair after she had done hers.

I miss them......

NonnoMum · 26/04/2010 20:56

Our dd had imaginary friends at about the age of 3. Each imaginary friend had about 5 sisters, (Malana, Falana, Pulana etc etc).

Sometimes the imaginary friends would be very naughty in the car and DH would have to pull over. He would threaten that the naughty friends would have to get out and walk if they didn't behave.

(Cue v good behaviour all round).

Sometimes dd would phone their mummies to see where the imaginary friends were, but then interrupt herself saying something along the lines of, "Oh, she's right here! Silly me..."

It was v involved and v hilarious (but a bit tiring!!)

lukewarmcupoftea · 26/04/2010 20:57

Gosh that's interesting Human - my DH said he had them but he can't remember them. Maybe I should tone down the stuff I tell her (e.g. gruffalo hunting in her mouth to get her to brush her teeth) if its all believed so vividly.

butterscotch · 26/04/2010 21:08

Ha ha I was googling this earlier today! My dd is 2.9 and for the last 3 or so months !!!!

We have Peppa, George, Dora, Boots, Alvin and the chipmunks, they come in the car etc..... Peppa always gets blamed for things to which I tell dd that I'm phoning mummy pig for her to collect Peppa and she won't be able to come and play again as she is so naughty!
This so far works with regards to admitting she has done wrong!!!

When she starts not eating or messing around I tell her her friends have finished their dinner and that I'm phoning their parents to collect them as she is being naughty this makes her eat! If it works!!!

I hope it does mean active imagination and intelligence!!!

Tanga · 26/04/2010 21:24

Actually I sort of miss DD's - she was called Antiach or Antioch and was very quite and peaceful. DD said she was a very old lady.

I sort of remember having one myself, I think. He was a boy and called Prince and I even remember walking hand in hand with him. Definitely normal and definitely a sign of enormous intelligence, I'd say.

Tanga · 26/04/2010 21:24

T'chah ' quiet

MrsSaxon · 27/04/2010 20:57

DD has had one since she was 3 ish, she is now 5.

She calls her Granny from the olden days She gives out the most hilarious advice, direct from Granny from the olden days

Oddly most of the advise is off the wall, but seems to work.

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