imagination

My 6 year old niece (who is a twin) thinks her baby doll is real!  She has named it, dresses it and takes it everywhere with her.  The doll is very large.. almost life size.  She dresses the doll is her clothes as they wear the same size.    She named her Margaret and this started in one day and has been continuous.  What do we do?  Is this normal?  

[AnnieBrooke]

Are you the child's primary caregiver?  If not, when you say "what do we do?" do you mean how should you react?  Join in!  She knows it is just a doll.  She is just getting a kick out of playing with a life-sized avatar.

[margypops]

yup...normal ...has the other twin any doll friends ?

[jdtm]

This is not uncommon - and she knows this doll is a doll.  Apparently, this "pretense" is a sign of a creative and bright child (or so I've read).  In a few months, perhaps when school returns - she will forget about this "pretend" friend.  I once referred to our granddaughter's friend as "imaginary" and she replied "no, she's real, just invisible".  She knew and so did I.  All the best ...