The creation of imaginary persons, objects, or events in response to a psychological need.

Fantasy plays an important role in the lives of children, especially in their play. Because of their egocentric focus, children, unlike healthy adults, can have trouble distinguishing their fantasies from reality. In addition to developing creativity, fantasy can serve the important function of helping a child confront her fears and desires in a safe context that she can control.

The most common form of childhood fantasy is the imaginary playmate or friend, which often appears in early childhood, most commonly at the age of three or four. Naturally, an imaginary playmate is invisible (as opposed to a toy or another object that the child invests with life). Rather than a sign of disturbance, imaginary friends are generally a sign of mental health. They are one of the most important ways that a child can...