ABSTRACT
The.creation.of.an.imaginary.companion.is.only.one.of.many.forms.that.fantasy.production.takes. during.the.preschool.years,.but.we.think.it.is.particularly.intriguing..Children.as.young.as.2.or.3. talk.to.their.imaginary.companions.and.listen.to.what.they.have.to.say,.showing.that.the.capacity. to.love.and.derive.comfort.from.an.imaginary.other.does.not.require.a.lengthy.history.or.extensive. experience.with. interpersonal. interactions..However,. adult.observers.often.do.not.know.what. to. make.of.this.type.of.play..While.they.might.admire.or.be.amused.by.children’s.descriptions.of.the. lives.and.characteristics.of.imaginary.companions,.they.quickly.become.concerned.when.children. seem.too.caught.up.in.the.fantasy..Despite.research.showing.that.imaginary.companions.are.common.and.tend.to.be.associated.with.positive.characteristics.such.as.the.ability.to.take.the.perspective. of.another.person.(D..Singer.&.Singer,.1990;.Taylor.&.Carlson,.1997),.it.can.be.unnerving.to.see. a.child.smile.toward.empty.space.and.whisper.to.an.invisible.friend..Does.the.child.really.believe. there.is.someone.sitting.there?.In.this.chapter,.we.discuss.the.extent.that.children.are.aware.of.the. make-believe.status.of.their.imaginary.companions.and.other.issues.related.to.how.invisible.friends. are.experienced.by.young.children.
