Baby - Fantasizing

What if your child has different fantasies about their lives that they tell their friends about?

under 8 years

Typically, children begin to make-believe from the age of three, and this continues until adolescence. This not only makes adults upset, but is also alarming, because we’re told that lying is wrong, and we condemn it. However, it’s important to understand that to a child, their fantasies are true, and the line between truth and their imagination is very blurred. Children sometimes don’t realize that they’re lying, sometimes they embellish reality, supplementing with what they lack in real life. That is why it is important to listen to your child’s thoughts, because they might not only be hiding their unmet needs, but also their deepest feelings.

For starters, you should forget the phrase "Shame on you!", and stop feeling ashamed of your little dreamer. It’s important to understand the reason they might be lying or frequently fantasizing.

It’s believed that children under 4 years old cannot lie. Simply, they just don’t understand how other people see the situation, and they always describe reality as they perceive it. After 4-5 years of age, the imagination develops very rapidly in children, and sometimes they do not separate reality from their fantasies. So, children acting out episodes of their fantasies or creating and explaining events incomprehensible to themselves, will begin telling you stories, sincerely believing they’re being truthful.

No need to scold your child for fantasizing, try giving them the opportunity to experience their own stories more vividly. To do this, ask them about their fantasies, and then ask them to draw it. This will help your child transfer their inner experiences to paper.

It is important to take your child’s fantasies, to a certain degree, seriously, because they hold inner thoughts that are going to be important to you. This is going to help you understand what your baby needs, and what problems they have. With the help of fantasies and lies, children can protect themselves from some scary information. A recurring fantasy can be a reason to worry and seek help.

If you are worried about your child, do not hesitate to contact a child psychologist who will help your child understand their difficult experiences with your support.

Be attentive to your baby!