Is your child all of a sudden playing with an imaginary friend? Parents whose children develop an invisible playmate might be wondering why this is happening or what it means. Dr. Ashley M. Whitaker, ...

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?” ...

"Mom/Dad! I'm SOOO bored!" Hearing this can conjure a rolling of the eyes in most parents. Decades ago, playing outside until sunset cured the "I am bored" declaration. Children happily imagined being ...