Final answer:
Children having imaginary friends benefit from the development of strategies for emotional control and social skills. These imaginary companions aid in understanding different perspectives and enhance emotional and social development, contributing to a child's ability to navigate real-world social interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the benefits of children having imaginary friends is C) the imaginary friend helps them to develop strategies for emotional control. Imaginary friends can serve as a tool for children to practice social skills, understand emotional regulation, and develop theory-of-mind (TOM), which is the understanding that others have thoughts, feelings, and beliefs different from their own. These imaginary companions facilitate a child's ability to engage in cognitive decoupling, allowing them to imagine different perspectives and scenarios, thus enhancing their social and emotional development. Pretend play, through the use of imaginary friends, also helps preschool children in the stage of initiative versus guilt as described by Erikson, where they learn to plan and achieve goals while interacting with others, bolstering self-confidence and a sense of purpose.