Imaginary friends, also known as "imaginary companions", are pretend characters often created によって children. Imaginary フレンズ often function as tutelaries (or perform a tutelary function) when they are engaged によって the child in play activity. Imaginary フレンズ may exist for the child into adolescence and sometimes adulthood. Imaginary フレンズ often have elaborate personalities and behaviors. Although they may seem very real to their creators, studies have shown that children understand that their imaginary フレンズ are not real.
