A parent is concerned because their 4-year-old child engages in 'imaginary friend' play. How should the nurse respond?

PRESCHOOL DEVELOPMENTAL NORMS: Imaginary friends are common and normal in 2-7 year olds; research suggests 65% of children have imaginary friends at some point; PIAGET'S PREOPERATIONAL STAGE (2-7 years): Symbolic thinking develops (objects can represent other things); magical and animistic thinking (objects have feelings); egocentrism (difficulty seeing others' perspectives); BENEFITS: Imaginary friends help children practice social scenarios, process emotions, develop narrative thinking, and rehearse social roles; DIFFERENTIATION from pathology: Normal if: child knows the friend isn't real when asked directly; child does not act based on 'instructions' from the imaginary friend that harm themselves or others; child maintains relationships with real people; CONCERNING if: child truly cannot distinguish fantasy from reality; imaginary presence accompanies social withdrawal or declining functioning; command 'voices' tell child to do harmful things.