Imaginary friend. What's the best way to deal with it?

[ceciliaaherne]

I know lots of children go through this but this is dc3 and my first experience. There are a couple flitting about but the main protaginist (who has a name that I have never heard of, but dd is quite definite that is her name) pops in several times a day. This friend tells her to do certain things and wants certain things and is apparently " her best friend" to which I usually respond " I thought that was me". Wrong? Sometimes I humour her, sometimes I ask her to tell her friend it is time to go home. Tonight she had planned on staying the night . Dd is 3 and a tad too young for this planned sleepover I felt.

What I really want to know, from those of you who have had experience of this is

1. Why? Is there something lacking in her life that she feels she has to introduce this other element?
2. How will this progress and how should I play it?

Thanks in advance

My DB had loads when he was younger

• Charpy - drove a red car
• Duncut - Charpy's friend
• Little Scottidge - a girl with a fur hat
• Hungry Crockldile - self explanatory
• Other Steve - to distinguish him from the first Steve he knew
• Greytic - liked cheese
• Toopy - ?

They came everywhere for ages and had whole stories written about them as he got older.

DD just has one called Skobsker (sp?)

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These stories have all been very reassuring and hilarious at the same time. The names they have come up with are fab. I am starting to think I should sit back and enjoy this now instead of getting anxious every time they come to visit. Thanks all!