Fact or Fiction
“My second grader is having some trouble sorting fact from fiction,” commented a parent of a youngster with autism. “Maybe it is because he interprets things very literally, but some of the books for kids his age seem to be confusing to him.” Teachers of youngsters with autism of all ages have made similar comments about the confusion that can arise from literal interpretation of fictional or imaginary stories.
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SOME IDEAS TO CONSIDER. Teachers and family members might want to make certain they always make clear the distinction between fact and fiction by telling them whether the story is real or pretend. So, for example, if we are getting ready to read a story about the Velveteen Rabbit or Hansel and Gretel, we can say, “This is a pretend story about imaginary people. Let’s see what happens.” And if we are getting ready to read a letter from a child’s grandparents whom they rarely see, we can show the child a picture of their grandparents and say, “This is a real letter from Grandmama and Papa.” Better yet, tape a 3-minute video of grandparents talking directly to the child and show that to the child before reading letters from Grandmama and Papa.
Also, we can make certain our friends with autism have lots of reading material that is based on fact. I find that individuals of all ages on the spectrum of autism are often intrigued by books, magazines, and videos that focus on actual events, places, and things. There is a growing selection of children’s books about real topics – animals, transportation, places, science, history, inventions, cultures, food, and other interesting themes. Many of these books use actual photographs or realistic illustrations that help distinguish them from cartoons or imaginary stories. And don’t forget to check out all the great magazines and websites designed specifically for children. Click on the “In Depth” section of our FAQautism.com website to find a partial list of resources and web links. And please feel free to send me an e-mail with your favorite books, magazines, websites, and other resources.
So, in regards to the distinction between fact and fiction, we just need to keep in mind that many of our friends with autism interpret most of what they see and hear literally. We must not assume they can discern the difference between fact and fiction. And we can purposefully help them find reading material that is, indeed, based on actual people, events, things, and places so they have a frame of reference in the future.
NOTE TO LISTENERS AND READERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
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