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Not all children know a rabbit is faster than a turtle, nor that x and x are an enemy of a lion. If we can teach this layer, why can't we do the other? A simpl

Not all children know a rabbit is faster than a turtle, nor that x and x are an enemy of a lion. If we can teach this layer, why can't we do the other? A simple thing like one kid being known to be fast, getting trophies, or the slower one having some sort of handicap would do the same. The second is easily strange kids at a new school, kids that look different or eat differently (with the one being helped having been unsure of it), and so on. After all, it isn't like the animals are natural enemies, but one happens to eat the other. In other words, simply have the story tell the lesson outright, with people, rather than expecting them to learn from the animal metaphors.

infinite8s 9y ago
True, but you lose the instant recognition of differences (which come to think of it might be a good thing).
throwaway_345 9y ago
As a parent with a child on Autism spectrum, it makes me mad to no end to try and shoehorn Animals everywhere. Like - Rabbit and Tiger going to school and doing things. Tiger going to "boys room". How do you explain that tiger is a boy? I am not saying - to not have Animals in the stories. Turtle and the rabbit in their role make sense. Thirsty crow story won't be same without a crow or some other kind of flying Animal. So as Lion and the mouse. But it doesn't stop there. We have Animals doing shopping, pigs buying ham (it comes quite close to that sometimes). In my experience of working with my child, he understands and retells stories that he can relate to. Contexts that I can explain without calling for helpful dose of fantasy. He and I still try and love books where use of Animals is out of place. Such as - Elephant & Piggy stories. But I believe, he will get so much more out of those books if they used Humans. Then again, I may not be their target audience...
- Broken_Hippo 9y ago
  I used to babysit (as a 25-30+ old adult) for a pre-teen (and later teenager) with autism (it was really more supervision, just in case, as he did fairly well most times). He had much of the same issues - calling a fried chicken leg a "drumstick" was completely off limits as he wouldn't know what I was talking about. I can imagine he had much of the same problem with such stories. This is probably a facet that is often overlooked.
  - DanBC 9y ago
    There are a couple of interesting books about metaphor for people with autism. It's raining cats and dogs was written by someone with autism: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Raining-Cats-Dogs-Expressions/dp/1849052832/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Raining-Cats-Dogs-Expressions/d... And here's another book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Asperger-Dictionary-Everyday-Expressions-ebook/dp/B003GALS70/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Asperger-Dictionary-Everyday-Expres...
- dubya 9y ago
  My favorite example is one of the Poppleton books, where in one chapter the librarian is a chicken, and in the next, the pig is having chicken noodle soup.
tchaffee 9y ago
How do the kids learn rabbits are fast and turtles are slow, along with the cultural significance of the pairing? I also think changing our traditions of story telling based on one study without even understanding the long term outcome is a bit too eager.

infinite8s 9y ago

True, but you lose the instant recognition of differences (which come to think of it might be a good thing).

throwaway_345 9y ago

As a parent with a child on Autism spectrum, it makes me mad to no end to try and shoehorn Animals everywhere. Like - Rabbit and Tiger going to school and doing things. Tiger going to "boys room". How do you explain that tiger is a boy? I am not saying - to not have Animals in the stories. Turtle and the rabbit in their role make sense. Thirsty crow story won't be same without a crow or some other kind of flying Animal. So as Lion and the mouse. But it doesn't stop there. We have Animals doing shopping, pigs buying ham (it comes quite close to that sometimes). In my experience of working with my child, he understands and retells stories that he can relate to. Contexts that I can explain without calling for helpful dose of fantasy. He and I still try and love books where use of Animals is out of place. Such as - Elephant & Piggy stories. But I believe, he will get so much more out of those books if they used Humans. Then again, I may not be their target audience...

Broken_Hippo 9y ago
I used to babysit (as a 25-30+ old adult) for a pre-teen (and later teenager) with autism (it was really more supervision, just in case, as he did fairly well most times). He had much of the same issues - calling a fried chicken leg a "drumstick" was completely off limits as he wouldn't know what I was talking about. I can imagine he had much of the same problem with such stories. This is probably a facet that is often overlooked.
- DanBC 9y ago
  There are a couple of interesting books about metaphor for people with autism. It's raining cats and dogs was written by someone with autism: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Raining-Cats-Dogs-Expressions/dp/1849052832/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Raining-Cats-Dogs-Expressions/d... And here's another book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Asperger-Dictionary-Everyday-Expressions-ebook/dp/B003GALS70/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Asperger-Dictionary-Everyday-Expres...
dubya 9y ago
My favorite example is one of the Poppleton books, where in one chapter the librarian is a chicken, and in the next, the pig is having chicken noodle soup.

tchaffee 9y ago

How do the kids learn rabbits are fast and turtles are slow, along with the cultural significance of the pairing? I also think changing our traditions of story telling based on one study without even understanding the long term outcome is a bit too eager.