Having an invisible friend is good for your kid's health

London, Feb 14 : Having an invisible companion (IC) is good for a child's health and can help him decide what kind of a person he wants to be, says a leading psychologist.

Kids who create ICs are often thought to be lonely or socially incompetent, and their invisible playmates are regarded by adults as sad substitutes for 'proper' social interaction. According to Dr Marjorie Taylor and her colleagues at the University of Oregon, having an IC is more common today for children as it was earlier, reports TimesOnline.

The researchers said that ICs function as playmates, confidantes and comforters. The increasing tendency of children to create them may, however, be due to something else.

They concluded that parents who allow their children's ICs to grow and flourish may therefore be helping their children to develop and maintain at least one form of creativity. And allowing them to "try out" various selves will give them a head start in the ever-changing and culturally diverse world that they will encounter as adults.

ANI