While you may have concerns regarding your child having an imaginary friend, it is important not to dismiss their existence or make too much of an issue of things. A child is only likely to get upset if you tell them that their 'friend' does not exist.
My daughter insists on setting a place at the table for her imaginary friend. Should I be worried about this?
Your child is learning social skills from her imaginary friend and is simply doing what she would do for anyone who comes to tea. But this can cause frustration for parents who have to make allowances for an extra table setting, or room in the car for the imaginary friend on a journey.
While limits have to be set on how much a family must do to include an imaginary friend, it is best to indulge the child to an extent. Let her set the extra place, and allow her to include the friend as long as it is not inconveniencing the family. For example, it is acceptable to make room in the car for the imaginary friend, but not acceptable to have to return home because the imaginary friend has been forgotten.
My child seems very happy playing by herself with her imaginary friend.
Should I be encouraging her to socialise with other children instead?
Your child can have both an imaginary friend and real friends. The imaginary one need not stop her socialising, and many children have both.
Allow her to have her imaginary friend. Don't discourage this aspect of play, but see it as separate from your concerns about her socialising. Do you feel she is spending too much time on her own? If so, why? Try to encourage her to mix with other children without making an issue of the matter. Don't let your child become aware of your concerns, or tensions may arise. Imaginary friends don't tend to cause problems, but if your child feels her perceptions are not valid this can cause anxiety.
My child misbehaves and blames it on her imaginary friend. What should I do?
Imaginary friends do have a tendency to be naughty and are never there to take the blame. While it is a good idea to go along with things and acknowledge the imaginary friend, your child should not be able to use this as an excuse to misbehave and break rules.
You can show your child what is not acceptable while playing along with the game. For example, if the child has used crayon on a wall, and blamed his imaginary friend, you could explain that this is a naughty act and that his friend must not do this again. If you reprimand the child through his imaginary friend, he will appreciate that you have respected and acknowledged his friend, while taking on board being scolded.
I am happy to go along with my three- year-old's imaginary friend, but am concerned that once he starts nursery other children may tease and laugh at him. Should I prepare him?
I wouldn't worry about your child being bullied about having an imaginary friend. Other children without imaginary friends do tend to understand that other children have them. They see it as less of an issue than adults do, and are likely to include them in games and activities. It is unlikely that other children will laugh at him. They will simply see it as an extension of imaginary play. By the time he gets to an age where children might tease him about this, it is likely that he will have grown out of this stage.