Amia and her friend Zelba have been inseparable for nearly a year.
They share secrets, play games, and rule over imaginary kingdoms.
Amia loves to talk, and Zelba is a great listener.
Amia sometimes has bad ideas, and Zelba goes along with them anyway.
Amia is very real, and Zelba is not.
Some parents worry about their child having playmates they can't see or hear, but imaginary companions are a normal part of psychological development for many kids.
In fact, they even provide a special kind of support real friends can't.
But to understand this, we first need to explore what leads certain kids to create these fictional figures.
Most often, their inventors are simply looking for someone to play with.
Imaginary friends are typically created by children roughly three to four years old who lack siblings of a similar age.
