I’m showing my age here, but I remember a movie where The Three Stooges tricked their way into a mansion, pretending to be the caterers. They were then faced with the challenge of cooking, so they followed a recipe that listed one can of tomatoes and two eggs. The tomatoes went in the pot still in the can, and the eggs in their shells. They were taking the recipe literally. 

Taking words literally means understanding them in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or exaggeration. A friend who had taught in Kid’s Church told me about a child’s drawing of Jesus driving a car with the devil in the back seat because Jesus was ‘driving a demon out’.

‘As a kid, I used to think ‘exhaustive’ concordances got their name because

 of how heavy they were.’  (Jeffrey Kranz from ChurchTechToday.com)

All children can take things literally and this is especially associated with autistic children. 

Say What You Mean

Children need to accept the things you say at face value.   They are black-and-white thinkers.  Context is important.  It’s the setting for an event, statement or idea so it can be understood, in other words, it constructs meaning.  Communicating is about a sender and a receiver.  If what you are communicating or teaching is left to a child’s interpretation who knows what ideas they could go home with?  Use plain language.         

Don’t Avoid Jokes

Humour enhances children’s learning. Use humour in your Kid’s Church

• Plays and skits
• Funny songs with actions
• Funny anecdotes

I read that those with Autism will be the first to tell you not to stop using jokes, idioms and metaphors.  They may need time to learn and process what you’re saying but they can recognise a joke.   

Do Avoid Sarcasm

Sarcasm is using words that mean the opposite of what you want to say, especially to insult someone, show irritation, or be ‘funny’.  Sarcasm supposedly reveals wit and creativity but it’s often used to hide hostility or veil criticism.  (The word is derived from Greek words that mean ‘tearing of the flesh’.  Ouch.)  I see sarcasm used in skits and plays for Kid’s Churches, accompanied by eye-rolling, and I think there is a better way to write.  Most people with Autism fail to recognize sarcasm. 

Abstract Concepts

There are concepts that children cannot understand because they are intangible and exist beyond the realm of direct sensory perception.  They’re concepts that are ideas, emotions and principles.

• Freedom
• Justice
• Knowledge
• Democracy
• Hope

Children typically learn most abstract words and concepts between ages six and ten.  Abstract words associated with emotional content are learned before those without emotional associations.     

Our challenge as volunteers who teach in Kid’s Church is to communicate the truth in God’s Word in ways kids can understand, so they can gain an understanding of God and His love for them.   Plain and simple.