Children

I have thought about your answer for quite some time. I just don't see how this is an example of taking things literally...

This is just what children do really. They speak the truth and don't see what is wrong with it.

I thought that taking things literally thing had to do with proverbs or sayings or so.

Quite puzzled now actually.

NAS36609 said:

The only side of dealing with children I’ve particularly struggled with is imaginary games

I'm with you there completely.  At home, with my own 2 daughters, I'm kinda lucky.  They are both very intelligent girls and close enough in age (4½ years apart) that they can still play their "imaginary" games together without too much in the way of argument.

I generally get called upon to join in the more energetic pursuits (today it was nerf wars, for example), or their favourite game - use Daddy as a climbing frame... lol

With s number of the other kids in the area I'm simply "the dad that fixes things" - skateboards, roller skates, bicycles, scooters etc

I’ve worked with children since my early teens and I’ve often found them easier to communicate with than adults (especially the younger ones) in terms of their levels of literalness and directness. I suppose that also with my own emotional immaturity I am able to relate to them on that level too. I certainly feel a deep sense of care towards any children that are ‘different’ or appear as I did when I was their age (incredibly shy, not fitting in with others etc.), as I suppose I want to protect them from any suffering similar to what I experienced as a child, and they usually do take a shine to me.

The only side of dealing with children I’ve particularly struggled with is imaginary games and ‘fun’ games, the latter mostly because they are activities that caused me great anxiety as a child myself...structured work with children is definitely more my thing!

Blank said:

That taking things literally is difficult for me to understand, so feel free to give an example

For example, I tend to take the literal definition - complete with semantic differences - of the words/language that people use.  This is a typical aspie trait, or so I'm led to believe.  The majority of younger children tend to be very literal in their language.

An example of this would be my youngest...  When she was 2 we went out with our neighbour for dinner to celebrate her birthday.  We had a lovely meal at a quite pub near to where we lived.  The landlady could best be described as spherical,  My daughter, true to form, said "That lady is FAT!."  Our neighbour's daughter tried to correct my 2yo telling her that she shouldn't call people fat.  The next thing I hear is my 2yo shouting across the table at me saying "Dad! Jamie said that I shouldn't call that lady fat but she is fat" My wife looked horror stricken. lol  Fortunately, the landlady had heard this and took it in very good heart, even going so far as telling said 2yo "you are quite correct young lady; I am fat.  Would you like some chocolate?" 

Still makes me smile to this day

I have the same experience but more ages 1 to 10 or  eleven. Everything going to secondary is really not for me. That whole adolescence thing is completely beyond me (like it was then). 

Although Asperger's myself I don't think it is due to taking things literally but more to having some kind of fantasy that seems to be part of children rather than having grown into adulthood.

That taking things literally is difficult for me to understand, so feel free to give an example :-)