EUGENE–How would you feel if your child started talking to somebody who doesn’t physically exist?

Some parents delight in their child’s imaginary companion as evidence of a lively imagination and creative mind. Others worry that the imaginary companion might be a sign that their child is in emotional distress or having difficulty communicating with other children.

Marjorie Taylor, a professor of psychology at the University of Oregon, provides an informed look at pretend friends and dispels many myths about them in her new book, "Imaginary Friends and the Children Who Create Them" (Oxford University Press, 1999).

"In the past a child with an imaginary companion might have been considered peculiar, shy or even troubled," Taylor says. "The reality is much more positive–and interesting."

She notes that imaginary companions are surprisingly common–up to 65 percent of children have them. The youngsters who imagine companions tend to be less shy than their peers. They also are better able to focus their attention and to see things from another person’s perspective, she says.

Some of the questions addressed in the book are: What does having an imaginary companion mean? Might a child become so engrossed in the imaginary world so as to lose touch with reality altogether? Is the creation of an imaginary companion a sign of mental illness? Is it an early marker of special intelligence?

The comprehensive, 216-page book addresses these topics and answers many more questions in chapters such as: What Are Imaginary Companions Like?, The Characteristics of Children Who Create Imaginary Companions, Why Do Children Create Imaginary Companions?, Do Children Think Their Imaginary Companions Are Real?, Do Older Children and Adults Create Imaginary Companions? and Fantasy in the Lives of Children and Adults.

Taylor covers a number of practical concerns, providing many useful suggestions for parents. For example, she describes how children often express their own feelings by attributing them to their imaginary companion. The book also touches on other aspects of children’s fantasy lives, such as their belief in Santa, their dreams and their uncertainty about the reality of TV characters. In addition, adults who remember their own childhood pretend friends may be especially interested in the chapter on the relationship between imaginary companions in childhood and adult forms of fantasy.

"Parents with children who create imaginary playmates, as well as those who work with pre-schoolers, will find the information in this book very helpful in understanding the roles that imaginary companions play in children’s emotional lives," Taylor says.

Taylor is the author of numerous journal articles and book chapters and is an award-winning teacher. Her research on imaginary companions has been funded by the National Science foundation.

—30—

#F-7429/Local, OrSci,PDX,OrDailies,Top25sci,NW,NM,Special/lmf