Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Recommended Resources Books to help literal thinkers

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Have you ever looked at "Jarvis Clutch, Social Spy" by Mel Levine? My DS' therapist recommended it as a way to help him with ADHD-related social struggles. The fictional Jarvis observes and records his middle school classmates' social behavior and Dr. Levine chimes in halfway through each chapter to help Jarvis decode what is going on socially. It was helpful for my DS.

Just throwing out some ideas, don't have much experience with literal mindedness. Heck, it was a novelty in my house if anyone ever said what they meant.

How about literature? Along with discussing analogies, metaphors, similes, and general divergent interpretation.

Possibly applying that knowledge to actively interpeting sitcoms on TV?

I think I am the only non-literal thinker in our house, so I can relate.

My kiddo does like nuance in jokes, but he doesn't pick up on nuance in social situations, directions, or body language. My daughter bought my son a season of Big Bang Theory, and we watch the episodes together. I tell him why people think a certain situation is funny, what was the expected behavior, etc. Believe it or not, it opens up conversations. There are some adult relationship overtones, so I don't know if this would work for you, but with two college-age siblings, it is nothing my son hasn't seen or heard.

I'm looking forward to reading suggestions as well. Teaching someone else to discern and pick up on nuance is nigh unto impossible.