Do imaginary friends make you smarter?

From the creator

Explore the psychology behind why children invent imaginary companions and what skills they can develop through pretend play. -- Amia and her friend Zelba have been inseparable for nearly a year. They share secrets, play games, and rule over imaginary kingdoms. Amia sometimes has bad ideas, and Zelba goes along with them anyway. Amia is very real, but Zelba... is not. So, what leads kids to create these fictional figures? Explore why children invent imaginary companions and what skills they can develop through pretend play. Directed by Caitlin McCarthy. This video made possible in collaboration with the LEGO Group and the LEGO Foundation Learn more about how TED-Ed partnerships work: http://t.ted.com/Rbx7KCW Support Our Non-Profit Mission ---------------------------------------------- Support us on Patreon: http://t.ted.com/nlVpzFN Check out our merch: http://t.ted.com/upNeDi3 ---------------------------------------------- Connect With Us ---------------------------------------------- Sign up for our newsletter: http://t.ted.com/R7iMQzr Follow us on Facebook: http://t.ted.com/NKcsscO Find us on Twitter: http://t.ted.com/nXsWmpA Peep us on Instagram: http://t.ted.com/zuDVFXP ---------------------------------------------- Keep Learning ---------------------------------------------- View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/is-it-normal-to-have-imaginary-friends Dig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/is-it-normal-to-have-imaginary-friends/digd

Published 2026-04-09 · Watch on YouTube ↗
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