What age do toddlers have imaginary friends

Children's imaginations begin developing around 2½ to 3 years of age, marking the start of pretend play.Studies show that around 65% of kids had imaginary friends at some point before they turned seven.Imagination can be an important part of a child's play and.Tammy gold, licensed therapist, certified parent coach, and founder of the tammy gold nanny agency, says it is normal for kids to have imaginary friends at the toddler and preschool age.Not all kids have imaginary friends, but it's very common and.

An imaginary friend can be present in a child's live for anywhere from a few months to a few years.These friends or companions have names and personalities, and to the children who have them they are as real as the sun in the sky.This is also the stage where they start to develop deeper friendships and the need for imaginary friends is reduced.Most children know that these friends are not really real, but to them, the comfort from the companionship is real.How long do imaginary friends last?

A study conducted by researchers at the university of oregon found that by age 7, 37 percent of children had an invisible friend.More often than not, imaginary friends fill in the gaps until about age six or seven, when a child begins to incorporate other people into their life through school or social groups.Girls are more likely than boys to have imaginary friends.By 3 years of age, children link their imagination and cooperative play skills together.