Imaginary friends are part of normal childhood development, but clinicians should assess rigidity, distress, or functional impairment to separate healthy play from underlying concern issues.

An earlier version of this story appeared in Kids Today, Vox’s newsletter about kids, for everyone. Sign up here for future editions. A Vox reader asks, “Why do children often have imaginary friends?” ...

In Stranger Things season 5, Holly Wheeler's imaginary friend causes concern. (Netflix) After nearly a decade, Netflix hit Stranger Things is drawing to an end with season five – and Mike and Nancy's ...

Sometimes when I reach for a bag of frozen mixed vegetables, I’ll find a hamster in our freezer. My daughter put the disintegrating stuffed toy in a Caboodle, a clear plastic case meant for organizing ...

It is fascinating how synchronicity comes into play at times. I was meeting a group of people I did not know too well when the conversation turned to a topic of interest to me - children's imaginary ...

While on vacation my daughter started talking about an imaginary friend. The name she chose shocked me.Courtesy of Alexandra Meyer. I was enjoying a family vacation when my daughter started playing ...

Encouraging people to mistake digital companions for real friends is prima facie unethical. Encouraging people to have imaginary friends is no solution to social isolation. There is a risk that the ...