Have you ever had an imaginary friend? Watch this

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TED-Ed |

TED-Ed

• April 2026

Amia and her friend Zelba have been inseparable for nearly a year. They share secrets, play games, and rule over imaginary kingdoms. Amia sometimes has bad ideas, and Zelba goes along with them anyway. Amia is very real, but Zelba... is not. So, what leads kids to create these fictional figures? Explore why children invent imaginary companions and what skills they can develop through pretend play. [Directed by Caitlin McCarthy, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio].