a website to help parents talk with their children about potentially sensitive topics:
Birth, Death, and Fantastical Beings
cultural background plays a role in influencing children’s Belief in fantastical beings.
Jewish parents don’t emphasize their children’s involvement with fantastical beings since they follow different cultural beliefs.
Mennonite parents discourage pretend play because they see it as an expression of individuality, which could break group cohesion.
Hindu parents discourage the belief because imaginary friends are considered to be spirits from the child's past life.
Fundamentalist Christian parents don't encourage belief in fantasy because they think it could turn into deceit, which could lead to habitual lying or storytelling.
Even so, children admit to still having imaginary friends, engaging in pretend play, and believing in fantastical beings despite their parents’ discouragement,
showing the limited influence of parents over children’s personal beliefs.