‘We were inseparable’: How imaginary friends help us in real life

Autistic children make and maintain successful friendships, yet their approach to communication, social understanding and emotional understanding, is often different to their neurotypical peers, which can have an impact on relationships, Davis says. Also, they often indulge in imaginative play a little differently, usually engaging in imaginative activities such as drawing instead of make-believe, says Davis. Together, this suggests they may have less inclination to create imaginary friends.