A study by American psychologist Dr. Lawrence Kutner in the mid-2000s found that as many as 65% of seven-year-olds had an imaginary friend. A similarstudy in the UK found that 17% of children aged 3 to 10 have imaginary friends. According to the same study, the peak age for having an imaginary friend is four years old.
These and other studies have shown that having imaginary friends can be good for children in many ways. They can help children develop social skills, provide comfort and companionship, and give children greater emotional support. Having imaginary friends can be a sign of intelligence as well, though not all intelligentchildren will have one.
