Older children, teens, and adults are probably already aware that people distort reality for fun. They might enjoy more sophisticated humor, such as satires and live-action comedies. When enjoying a story together, point out silly things that happen and say “Isn’t that ridiculous?” This will help the autistic person learn about both humor and typical human interaction.
Children enjoy outrageous stories, like the time you rode a T. Rex away from the meteorite that made the dinosaurs extinct. If you’re getting giggles, it’s going well. Say things that are obviously wrong. For example, use a silly voice say “Happy 29th birthday!” to your 79-year-old grandma, while your autistic sister is in the room. When corrected, continue being wrong. (“Oh, that’s right, she’s not 29. She’s 19!”) This will elicit some laughs. For older children, teens, and adults, pretend to hold a viewpoint that is uncharacteristic of you (e. g. “Oh, I hate Star Trek. It’s no good at all”). If the autistic person doesn’t seem to get it, give more and more ridiculous reasons. This tactic is a favorite of dads everywhere.
Idiom books are available for all ages. Some contain mostly pictures, while others are mostly text like a chapter book. Deep thinkers may enjoy books that explain the reasoning behind the idiom (for example, explaining how pots and kettles used to be hung over the fire, which would turn them black). This also makes it easier to understand and remember.
With time, some autistic people master the art of humor. Many autistic bloggers display a refined sense of sarcasm and wit. Autistic people may come up with new and interesting uses for language. Making bad jokes is part of life. Many neurotypical children invent jokes that make no sense. For example: “Knock knock. " “Who’s there?” “Apple. " “Apple who?” “Apple on the ceiling!” It takes time to learn how to construct a surprising and well-thought-out joke. [4] X Research source
