I remember Amelia Bedelia from when I was little, but I haven't read them for my kids -- partly because they need visuals on each page in order to concentrate, and I don't think Amelia Bedelia has that.
My kids aren't all that literal, but if anyone is looking for learning activities for idioms, here are some:
http://www.funbrain.com/idioms/
http://a4esl.org/q/h/idioms.html
My daughters used to love them! She is quite literal. My son does not get Amelia Bedalia at all. I think he is too literal and it can only mean one thing. Maybe when he gets a bit older.I actually had a conversation yesterday with the local Barnes and Noble childrens book expert, and she said these multiple meaning words were intentionally put in the books to increase children's word comprehension and vocabulary. They just had to create a way to introduce them. I don't think the author intended them to be an ASD trait, but its a very nice corrolary.
There's an illustrated story book I have for my sons where they do the raining cats and dogs, and something about a robber being on the LAMB, but he was caught and put in the PEN. Cute.
I think these are great once your child is reading and comprehending well, maybe at a second grade level, but for my first grader - who is a good reader - I need to hold off. Think it would confuse him right now, but later, I believe he will have fun making puns of these words...and of course, learning the different meanings.
By the way, I am of the opinion that autistic persons being "literal minded" is yet another broad generalization that really is more like an urban myth, like lack of eye contact or physical affection. I believe that these traits ARE seen, but not neccesarily in the bulk of the autistic population.
We use terms like "hit the deck" meaning to lie down for a pullup change, or "clear the deck" when my son is at the foot of the slide and another kid wants to come down, etc and he seems to have no trouble interpreting this and other words with multiple meanings. Then again, he just turned 7, so we could see it later.
Did anyone read these books when they were children? I was just looking over one of these books, and Amelia possibly reminded me of a person with Asperger's, in the sense that she takes things very literally. Here's a description of the books from the publisher:
"Everyone loves Amelia Bedelia, the literal-minded housekeeper! When she makes a sponge cake, she puts in real sponges. When she weeds the garden, she replants the weeds. And when she pitches a tent, she throws it into the woods!"
It was very interesting to read the first book in the series, where Amelia gets a job as a housekeeper, and her new employers leave her alone in their home with a list of things to be done.
The list includes: drawing the drapes (and she literally draws a picture of the drapes), putting out the living room lights (she takes the light bulbs outside and hangs them on the clothesline), dusting the furniture (she sprinkles powder all over the furniture). I thought that it was nice at the end about the "modifications" that Amelia's employer made: "Mrs. Rogers learned to say undust the furniture, unlight the lights, close the drapes, and things like that."
Has anyone read these books with their children with Autism/Asperger's? Do you think that they would enjoy reading about a character like this or do you think that it would highlight or treat these differences as funny?
Here's a link to the publisher's website which includes lesson plans and activities: http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/harperchildrens/kids/g amesandcontests/features/amelia/
Nicole
Free Autism Resources and Printable Activities for Parents and Teachers! ~ http://www.PositivelyAutism.com/
I have aNT 19 yo daughter who absolutely loved these books as a child, In fact one of her nick names is amelia bedilia.. She would crack up at the silly things Amelia bedelia did.
I have saved these books and have read to my boys, Maybe they are not quite at that age yet to understand this type of humor, but they are not phased at all by these books, and they don't see the humor in it yet. Maybe a few years down the road they will get it
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