Imaginary Companions and the Children Who Create Them

by Marjorie Taylor

Overview

If you have a child who creates imaginary creatures, or if you work with pre-schoolers, you will find this book very helpful in understanding the roles that imaginary companions play in children's emotional lives.

About the Author:
Marjorie Taylor is Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon. She lives in Eugene, Oregon.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198023975
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/29/2000
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Lexile:	1450L (what's this?)
File size:	626 KB

About the Author

Marjorie Taylor is Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon. She lives in Eugene, Oregon.

Table of Contents

Preface1. Introduction2. What Are Imaginary Companions Like? 3. The Characteristics of Children Who Create Imaginary Companions4. Why Do Children Create Imaginary Companions? 5. Do Children Think Their Imaginary Companions Are Real? 6. What Happens to the Imaginary Companions Created in Early Childhood? 7. Do Older Children and Adults Create Imaginary Companions? 8. Fantasy in the Lives of Children and AdultsNotesReferencesAcknowledgmentsPermissionsIndex

Editorial Reviews

This is a book that seemingly answers every possible question and then some; putting the place that imaginary companions have in the lives of children of all ages into reassuring perspective.
— ForeWord Magazine

P.C. Voice

Taylor (psychology, Univ. of Oregon) deftly discusses imaginary companions and the roles they play in children's lives. She discusses just what imaginary companions are and debates whether toys used imaginatively fit the description. She also considers which children create imaginary companions, why they do, and whether they can grasp the distinction between reality and fantasy. Taylor assures readers that children who create imaginary companions are not the mentally unstable characters we so often encounter in popular culture, and he gives educated parents and the professionals working with their children clear information. Her thorough bibliography will be useful for further research. Given the dearth of books on the subject, Taylor's meticulously researched and scholarly yet accessible book is highly recommended for both academic and large public libraries.--Marija Sanderling, Rochester P.L., NH

Library Journal

Taylor successfully combines a balanced review of a century of research on the phenomenon with a sensitivity to some of those wider issues.
—Paul L. Harris

Nature

"Engrossing reading for those whose children have invisible pals or who had them themselves, and for those interested in creativity and in how children develop conceptions of reality."—Booklist

From the Publisher