Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

DS is 3 and almost 2 months but he has been doing this for a long time and, frankly, it makes me nervous!

DS is very big on pretend play - he has whole parties on his own - he creates restaurants, parties, race tracks etc. But, alot of times they involve not real people - like for ex. the other day he was getting all ready in the play room for a "party" and was like - mommy - are you coming to the party - and i ask him whose party it is and he tells me its for "olivia" im like who is that - andhe is like -you know olivia and i say no i don't and he said you know her - she is a pig and then goes on to tell me that francine and julian will be here soon another time we were driving in the car by a shopping center near my house and he was like oh - this is where olivia's house is right over there and actually showed me "her house." or, today when i picked him up from school he said he had to get home for "bill andben's race" and im like - who are bill and ben - and he says "my trains." When I tell him - you know honey they are not real - he will say "yes they are, they are my friends"

I could go on and on - is this normal or should i be concerned? TIA!

Message edited 10/27/2010 10:10:13 PM.

Re: Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

I think it's normal. My 4 year old tells me to pick up the Oomi Zoomi's after she gets into her bath, so they can take a bath too. And sometimes she reminds me if I forget to take them out!

Message edited 10/27/2010 10:13:01 PM.

Re: Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

I'm pretty sure this is exceptionally normal! My DD lives in an imaginary world pretty much every second of her day!

Re: Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

It's totally normal, and I think it's great imaginative play. My son does everything with the characters from Toy Story, and farm animals. I watch him and I swear I am watching Andy from Toy Story

Re: Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

My DD is over 4.5 and still does this. It is totally normal... it shows a fantastic, active imagination!

Re: Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

i think its normal--at least i can say my 3.5 year old does the same thing

Re: Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

It's totally normal. In fact, I was really disappointed when it was clear that my son wasn't as interested in believing in make believe. We used to say hello and goodbye to every inanimate object in our house and things we saw on the road but lately if I do that he says, "Don't say that. It doesn't talk." He still talks to all of his toy cars and each day he tells "the group" whose turn it is to accompany him for the day. Sometimes he even informs them the night before .

Re: Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

very normal.

Re: Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

I think it is totally normal. DS plays with his trains, trucks and cars like this. He has them go on all kinds of adventures, rescuing things, moving freight, and crashing into one another.

Re: Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

Totally normal.

My son was almost 6 when I wrote this:
http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic.aspx?&P=1&ID=142167

Re: Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

Totally normal and indicative of a great imagination!

Re: Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

Yup! DS is 3 and has been talking about the 2 bears from Koala Brothers (really obscure Disney shpw) coming to see him in their airplane

He also talks about riding on Thomas, but that may be since DH showed him youtube videos of Day out with Thomas.

Totally normal and healthy

Re: Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

imaginary play is totally normal, especially at that age.

Re: Is this normal for a 3 yr old - pretend play and talking about tv/story characters as if they really exist?

They are all TV show characters.....You know that right? Cause I think at that age they think they are real in part?

If we went past a "forest" My DS will say " Dora lives there, in the rain forest" type of thing.

They show Olivias house on the TV show and it looks like a "Real house" ...