"Dad, the stars are the lights of angels!"

The magic phase

Children around the age of three understandably experience the world around them as incomprehensibly large and complex. It will take many years before they can even begin to understand them. Of course, it is also very unsatisfactory and unsettling for children if they cannot explain things and therefore do not understand them either. Therefore, they often create their own explanations, and quite simply with the help of their own imagination.

This phase can last until elementary school age and is absolutely nothing to worry about. It only helps the children to get structure and order in their own world until they can make more and more factual connections. However, the fantasy in the magic phase does not only lead to dreamlike and beautiful stories/versions for your child. On the contrary, unfortunately, children are often plagued by fears during this time.

At this stage, your child may start telling you really adventurous stories, so don't worry. A thriving imagination is absolutely not a weakness, but shows great creativity that can help your child find solutions to a variety of problems later in life. 

What can parents do during the magic phase

Don't make your child look like a liar

Your child is not willingly telling you lies, for your child that is the reality at the moment.

Take your child's fears seriously

No matter how ridiculous or absurd your child's fears may seem at the moment, don't downplay them. Support your child in overcoming these fears.

Try to find rituals and ways with your child to cope with the fears. For example, you can drive away all the monsters together (with noise, lights, etc.) in the evening before going to bed. It is best to think of a ritual together.

Watch what you say

Children in the magic phase often take what they hear literally.  A sentence like "if you don't eat up, the sun won't shine tomorrow". Could take your child seriously and so feel responsible for the weather.

Let your child have imaginary friends

In the magic phase, it often happens that children have imaginary friends. Don't question this, children can often confide in their invisible friends things that they don't want to talk about with their real friends.

Get involved in your child's stories

Listen to your child with interest, ask questions. Let your child be creative. Don't smile at the stories, but embark on the exciting journey into your child's fantasy world. 

This phase is something so beautiful, your child lives in his own world and expresses it. A little tip, write down your child's best stories, in a few years they will definitely read them with great pleasure.

I would like to end this article with a quote from Albert Einstein, "Imagination is more important than knowledge, because knowledge is limited."