Question:
Hello Dr. Joanette, My son, who is four sometimes talks to and tells stories to stickers of faces and people that are on the wall. Is this normal or should I be worried.Â
Answer:
It is not unusual for a child to talk to human stickers on the wall. In fact, it’s pretty common!
From neuroscience, we know that the brainwaves of young children from about age two up to age 13 are in a pattern called theta. Theta brainwaves are the brainwaves of creativity, intuition, daydreaming, and fantasizing and are a repository for memories, emotions, sensations.
Theta brainwaves in adults occur when they are in a state of hyposis or the state between wakefulness and sleep. The state of the subconscious mind. It is a perfectly normal brain pattern in children up to 13 years old. It isn’t present in awake adults but is normal during sleep in adults.
What this means is, it is normal and healthy for young children to see stickers of human faces on a wall as someone they can talk to and tell stories to.
Kids are curious and imaginative, and their theta brainwaves let them use the world around them to create stories and adventures. Stickers can be an excellent way for children to explore their creativity and curiosity when they turn the stickers into people and build stories around them.
Because childhood is a period of creativity and imagination, encouraging your child’s imagination and creativity is important. Give them opportunities to explore their interests. Provide them with other creative materials such as markers, crayons, and paper. Let them explore the outdoors, and introduce them to music. But let them take the lead in pursuing a creative talent.
