Literal thinking

Hi All, 

I am new here and looking for some advice as I am going crazy. My son is a sensitive wee soul and I think that he takes a lot of things to heart ( or personally). However the teachers at school see it as him taking things literally but I think these are completely different things - am I wrong ?

A few examples of them describing him as literal was 

He was helping the teacher and he made a mistake so she "jokingly" told him he was sacked and he got upset 

He once got upset before lunch the teacher asked him to wait in Class while she took the rest of class to lunch - she forgot about him and he sat there for the whole lunch . They said he just took it literally as no other kid would do this. 

Am I being stupid thinking these are not examples of literal thinking? 

He understands metaphors, the other day when we were in car there was a road sign which said roadworks ahead and he said "I sure hope it does" I panicked and asked him what meant "he said mum it's a joke - a play on the words" I feel like I am over analysing every small thing . 

Parents
  • It might be splitting hairs to worry about whether it’s literal thinking or not, but I have to say I did something almost identical to him sitting there through lunch just a few days ago. I understand metaphors and analogies and through life I’ve learned all the well known sayings, but I still struggle to interpret what is expected of me in any given situation.

Reply
  • It might be splitting hairs to worry about whether it’s literal thinking or not, but I have to say I did something almost identical to him sitting there through lunch just a few days ago. I understand metaphors and analogies and through life I’ve learned all the well known sayings, but I still struggle to interpret what is expected of me in any given situation.

Children
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