My Child Talks to His Toys, Is This Normal?

30 March, 2020
Q My son will be 7 year-old this month and he talks to his toys all the time.

He usually lined them all up and treats them like they are his class and he's the teacher. Is this normal?

Answer

In this counseling answer:

•What your son is doing is normal. It is called “modeling”.

•Your son is probably very bright as he is able to use his imagination, creativity, and real-life experiences to keep himself occupied.

•As long as your son has friends that he talks to, is expressive at home and is not socially withdrawn, you need not worry about this behavior.


As salamu alaykum,

Thank you for writing to us. Your question brought back many memories of my daughters doing that! They also had tea parties with their dolls and talked to them like they were real friends. My son also did this with his action figures.

He would line them up and talk to them about a “mission” they were going to be sent on.

Soon paper airplanes were flying through the living room and different voices would be chiming in on the action as my son would create voices for his “friends”.

My Child Talks to His Toys, Is This Normal? - About Islam

All my children had wonderful times such as these and are now well adjusted, intelligent young adults!

What your son is doing is normal. It is called “modeling”. What he is doing is modeling behaviors that he has seen either in school or at home or in some other educational setting.

In fact, your son is probably very bright as he is able to use his imagination, creativity, and real-life experiences to keep himself occupied.

As long as your son has friends that he talks to, is expressive at home and is not socially withdrawn, you need not worry about this behavior. It is just a normal play for an intelligent and creative young child.

Enjoy it while it lasts!

Salaam

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About Aisha Mohammad
Aisha received her PhD in psychology in 2000 and an MS in public health in 2009. Aisha worked as a Counselor/Psychologist for 12 years for Geneva B. Scruggs Community Health Care Center in New York. Aisha specializes in trauma, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, marriage/relationships issues, as well as community-cultural dynamics. She is certified in Restorative Justice/ Healing Circles, Conflict Resolution, Mediation, and is also a certified Life Coach. Aisha works at a Family Resource Center, and has a part-time practice in which she integrates healing and spirituality using a holistic approach. Aisha plans to open a holistic care counseling center for Muslims and others in the New York area in the future, in sha' Allah. Aisha is also a part of several organizations that advocate for social & food justice. In her spare time she enjoys her family, martial arts classes, Islamic studies as well as working on her book and spoken word projects.