How old for an imaginary friend???

E is almost 2 1/2, and is very chatty and sociable.  She has suddenly started talking about Isabel, and today wanted a yoghurt like Isabel's, and was busy telling me that Isabel was eating it nicely, and then that her Daddy was helping her with it.

We do know an Isabel, but she's a wee baby and we don't see her often. E does remember everything(!) and always knows everyone's name, but she would never have seen Isabel eat a yoghurt and probably has never met her Daddy.  Could it be an imaginary friend? We do have baby #2 due ina  few weeks so we do talk about baby a lot, but never as Isabel (it's not on our shortlist) so all I can think is that Isabel is an imaginary friend.....but is she not too young for that?!

Sounds like it could be with also thoughts about the new baby that will be arriving soon.

G is also nearly 2.5 yrs & she plays with 'people' all day long but she usually finds something to represent them, not always a doll or happyland figure etc. Their imaginations seem to be amazing even at such a young age, she never fails to amaze me with little stories & adventures her people are on.

Does she go to nursery?  Could it be another child that she has meet somewhere that you haven't.  My Isobel has a brilliant memory and remembers random children that we have meet especially if she has been told their name.

Thanks!

SarahR - she does role play stuff with random objects, but there's never anything/anyone there when she talks about Isabel!

Angeldust - it could be someone at nursery but I thought I knew all their names - I shall ask tomorrow when I drop her off!!

Interesting though!!

Awww - I think it's lovely when children have imaginary friends. J has never had any and at six I suppose he never will, but I had about four when I was little (so they wouldn't all get lonely!).

Our LO kept coming back from Playgroup talking about a 'Jordan' and that one of the paintings she had brought home with her with her name on had been done by this 'Jordan' but when I asked at playgroup they don't have a Jordan at the playgroup......