‘IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE – THEY DON’T EXIST'

Social psychologist Sandra Wheatley, who has a special interest in family and parenting, says, “If ghosts really did exist, we’d know by now, so it’s just not possible that kids are seeing them. We all have an internal voice that we use when reasoning in our head, and children can’t always understand that this isn’t someone else talking to them, but just a normal thought process, so they may well believe they are seeing someone else there when, in reality, like an imaginary friend, it is just their imagination.

“Some adults experience night terrors or sensed presences, but are able to rationalise their experience, whereas young children lack this ability. By humouring them or asking leading questions, parents risk encouraging this behaviour. Children pick up on things when we don’t realise they are listening, so even if we think they know information they shouldn’t have, they most likely heard it somewhere.

“Often, if a child is having a recurring dream or thinks they are speaking to a ghost, it can be an indication that something deeper is going on they are worried about, so it’s important to talk to them about it gently and, if there are still concerns, speak to a psychologist or doctor.”