By Amira Kim
Gone are the days when a not-so-visible friend could be justification for naughty behaviour. Puff the Magic Dragon has left households and been replaced by smart-screen devices.
Before smart phones and tablets became readily available and accessible to the general population, children had to entertain themselves. Personifying toys and creating scenarios and stories for them to act out was a staple part of childhood. Talking to imaginary friends was another.
For decades child psychologists attributed these behaviours to boredom. Children exercised their brain’s creativity by creating their own stimulation through these play behaviours.
This way of play is linked with a child’s development in areas of innovative and abstract thinking, as well as with resilience and adaptability. Imaginary play also allowed children to practise social behaviours and process different behaviour scenarios.
But now, with the introduction of smart screen stimulation in early childhood, Puff has died.
With parents offering constant stimulation through videos and games, children no longer have time to be bored. Brains no longer receive the same exercises in creativity, and imagination has become optional.
A survey conducted by daynurseries.co.uk reported that nursery staff in the UK have seen a decline in imaginary friends, and 72 per cent of respondents said fewer children have imaginary friends compared to 2014 data.
“Our children are less able to cope when things go wrong if they spend large amounts of time on screens as they haven’t practiced the skills of problem solving, social interaction and how to build their own resilience,” one respondent said.
In an era where the world is available at our fingertips, we mustn’t forget to create our own. Our children will be better for it.
So thank you to all our imaginary friends for the roles you played, you’ve been a real mate.
Featured image: Plush rabbit toy for children. Photo: Amira Kim