Teaching Sarcasm to Autistic Preteens:

One Thing to Try Tonight

Name the Tone Out Loud — Don’t Test It

During a normal, low-stress moment (not during conflict), say one sentence twice:

• First in a literal tone

• Then, in a playful or sarcastic tone

Example:

• “That was fast.” (literal)

• “Wow… that was fast.” (sarcastic)

Then gently explain:

“The words stayed the same, but my tone changed. When my voice sounds like this, it usually means I’m joking or being playful.”

That’s it.

No quiz. No correction. No expectation that they get it right.

Why this helps:

Autistic preteens learn best when sarcasm is explained, not tested. Naming tone removes the guessing and builds understanding without shame.