Imaginary Friend: Friend or Foe?

My nephew has an imaginary friend! He talks to him all the time and includes him in family discussions. He sometimes gets angry at his friend and at times laughs his head off with him! It was all very confusing at first, but we soon found out more about those make believe buddies.

According to a study conducted by Elaine Reese, associate professor of Otago University, and Gabriel Trionfi, of Clark University, children with imaginary friends have more advanced narrative skills than those who don't have imaingary friends. That is probably due to the fact that children with imaginary friends included more conversation in their fiction stories.

Parenting expert, Armin Brott, says imaginary friends are wonderful for stimulating creativity and even acting as a confidant when there is no one else to talk to.

Nevertheless, you do have to remember, children need contact with other children to learn about those ever important socialization skills. Also, help your child understand that shifting responsibility for wrongdoings to his/her imaginary friend is ok once in a while, but that does not mean that he can be exempt from responsibilities.

So if your kid introduces you to a friend you can't exactly see, greet him with respect as this relationship is bringing more advantages than "meets the eye".

Starting off

It has taken me many anxious ridden new years to realize that the whole concept of a new year's resolution is just a quick fix to taming my already over stimulated mind!

NO, I didn't make a new years rosolution for 2010! I didn't promise myself to start jogging again, I didn't promise myself that this year I will not say so many bad words and I definately did not resolve to cut down on chocolate! This has been a resolution-free new year and free is exactly how I feel!

That freedom is probably what mobilized me to start writing about things of my interest and that might interest other like minded people out there!

I am a psychologist and body psychotherapist who has a deep and thorough curiosity about the human nature. I love observing people, their reactions, their actions, their words and body language...that curiosity was sparkled tenfold when I started working with children. I have been teaching English for children for the past years and the amount of knowledge I have gained from these little creatures is astounding!

Anyone who has children at home or works with children (and is a little honest with her/himself) knows that apart from the absolute beauty and honesty they bring forth, coexisting with children brings daily questions and uncertainties.

So this blog will hopefully present you with interesting and useful information, cute stuff, cool pictures and all that I find along that is destined to those who work closely with children or have some of these miraculous beings at home!!

Enjoy!! I already am!
And happy 2010