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Case study: Chloe and Middori

Chloe was four when the nursery first became aware of her imaginary friend 'Middori'. Her parents already knew of Middori's existence and told of how Chloe would talk about her at bedtime and when out playing. At meal times she would leave an empty chair next to her for her friend. Middori's existence was not at first obvious as Chloe would seem to be talking to herself and would stop if observed or questioned. At nursery Chloe would talk about Middori being sad or upset, and would refer to Middori's strong likes and dislikes. She appeared to be a repository for unpleasant thoughts, for example when Chloe's friend fell out with her at nursery and she had no-one to play with; or when Chloe was told off for taking something that did not belong to her from another child.
Chloe was four when the nursery first became aware of her imaginary friend 'Middori'. Her parents already knew of Middori's existence and told of how Chloe would talk about her at bedtime and when out playing. At meal times she would leave an empty chair next to her for her friend. Middori's existence was not at first obvious as Chloe would seem to be talking to herself and would stop if observed or questioned.

At nursery Chloe would talk about Middori being sad or upset, and would refer to Middori's strong likes and dislikes. She appeared to be a repository for unpleasant thoughts, for example when Chloe's friend fell out with her at nursery and she had no-one to play with; or when Chloe was told off for taking something that did not belong to her from another child.

At home, she is often blamed for what Chloe does not want to admit she has done wrong, or to give weight to what Chloe wants, to get her own way - 'Middori doesn't want to go there/do that/eat that'.

Chloe's parents were worried about Chloe having an imaginary friend at first, and sought advice. They tried to tell Chloe that Middori wasn't real, which led to a high level of oppositional behaviour from Chloe. Chloe was an only child and one who was quite highly controlled by her parents, so Middori functioned as her ally in an adult world.

The nursery reacted in an accepting way and the staff would have conversations about Middori and get Chloe to help them handle her - for example if Middori would not admit to a misbehaviour, they would ask Chloe to talk to her quietly and see if she could help Middori put it right, or if Middori was sad they would ask Chloe to help them find out what the trouble was.