How do you know that your baby has his Carlson?
Usually imaginary friends appear in children aged 3 years and older. That is, when the child is already able to play role-playing games. The presence of such a friend does not depend on whether the only child in the family or he has brothers and sisters. Imaginary friends can be a cure for boredom and a way to separate from relatives.
Most often, children talk with their toys, as if with living people. Sometimes they come up with adult friends that look like older siblings, mom or dad, especially if the adults do not pay enough attention to the baby.
The presence of such an imaginary friend is not at all a signal that the child has some psychological problems. This speaks only of the developed fantasy and turbulent imagination of the baby, which must be developed.
If you have any doubts about the reasons why another "family member" appeared in your house, then it is enough to observe the child and his games.
The reasons for the appearance of imaginary friends.
If a child lives a monotonous life, if he is often bored, it is not surprising if, at one point, he starts a conversation about a non-existent friend. Lack of impressions is one of the reasons for their appearance. The child needs new emotions, in changing the environment, in the sources of new knowledge. If he is deprived of all this, it is likely that he will come up with a new, more interesting life, because he simply has no other choice. If adults can be saved from boredom in many ways, the child to cope with the routine is much more difficult.
Another reason for the appearance of an imaginary friend may be excessive parental care. Some parents do not leave a child any chance to choose, on their own opinions and mistakes, they criticize him, although they think that they act only for the good. But the child, like any other living being, strives for freedom, he needs an outlet. So there are new invisible friends, communication with which allows the child to feel free.
Another reason for the appearance of imaginary friends is negative emotions. If a child is often punished, if he experiences fear, feelings of guilt or shame, he will look for a way out to get rid of negative emotions. Just not every adult can survive and defeat them, not to mention the child. If the reason for the appearance of a new friend is in negative emotions, you will definitely notice this. In the game, the child transfers his feelings to this or that, with whom he plays, he can punish in anything an innocent doll, chastise an unseen friend, justify himself or be brave - you will see and understand it. In this case, you need to draw conclusions and immediately correct the situation, eliminate the cause of anxiety.
Lack of communication often leads to this strange friendship. If the kid has no one to play with, there is no one to share his emotions with, he is often alone or often left to himself, then do not be surprised if he quickly finds such a strange substitute for living people.
There is nothing terrible in the imaginary friends themselves. Another thing is the reasons why they arise. It's not good if the child does not talk about an imaginary friend, hides it. This suggests that in your relationship there is a lot of mistrust that needs to be overcome in order to avoid serious problems in the future.
Teach the baby to see the difference between what he is inventing and what is actually. Try to find out and eliminate the reason why the child refuses to live communication. Help him find new real friends, diversify leisure, pay more attention and learn to hear your baby.
If the child categorically refuses to build relationships with peers, if he is unsociable and closed, if this virtual communication interferes with his life and study, then it makes sense to talk about a serious problem that needs to be addressed not with punishments and conversations, but with studies with a child psychologist .
In any case, sometimes it's useful to remember that we were all children once and also dreamed that personal carlson would be started in our attic. There is nothing to worry about, that sometimes he flies to your baby.