Figurative language explained for parents (Australia)
Figurative language is non-literal language — words that paint a picture, make a comparison, or give human spark to something that isn’t human. After The moon smiled down, a child might grin and say “The moon can’t really smile — it means it looked friendly.” After She was as quiet as a mouse, they might say “Not a real mouse — just very quiet.” The teach-through is oral first: “What does that paint a picture of?” (or “Does that mean exactly what it says?”) before a simile/metaphor worksheet. Australian Prep–Year 6 classrooms meet it from playful picture-book talk through denser fiction and light idioms; it usually deepens in Years 3–6 as children name simile, metaphor, personification, and everyday idioms without killing the joke.
That is a different job from theme (the big idea / message under the story), character traits (what a character is like), point of view (who is telling the story), and author’s purpose (why the writer wrote it). Figurative language asks: Is this saying something literally — or painting a picture? It is also not inference as a whole umbrella, not a vocabulary-while-reading deep dive, not main idea, not summarising, not sequence, not cause and effect, not compare and contrast, not text features, not fact vs opinion, and not a poetry-analysis course. Fluency (reading fluency, robot reading) frees attention for noticing playful language; it is not figurative teach-through itself. This page is not the full comprehension strategies at home umbrella — it owns figurative-language teach-through, Prep–Year 6 (link phonics when sounding out is the blocker).
Figurative language vs theme vs traits vs purpose
Mixing these labels causes homework friction. Keep tools clear:
| Idea | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Figurative language | Non-literal wording that paints a picture; oral What does that paint a picture of? | “as quiet as a mouse” (simile) |
| Theme | Big idea / message about people or life under the story | “Friendship matters” (theme) |
| Character traits | What a character is like | “Kind — she shared” (character traits) |
| Point of view | Who is telling the story / whose eyes | “Told with I” (point of view) |
| Author’s purpose | Why the writer wrote it | “Mostly to entertain us” (author’s purpose) |
| Inference / vocabulary / connections / questioning / visualising / clarifying / main idea / summarising / sequence / cause-effect / compare / text features / fact-opinion / predicting | Other meaning habits | Different jobs (inference, vocabulary, making connections, questioning, visualising, clarifying, main idea, summarising, sequence, cause and effect, compare and contrast, text features, fact vs opinion, predicting) |
So figurative talk is not “what did we learn about people?” (theme) and not “what is Mia like?” (traits). Kitchen: “Does the moon really smile?” (figurative); “What did we learn about people or life?” (theme); “What is Mia like?” (traits).
What Australian schools mean by figurative language
Programs vary. Teachers may say figurative language, simile, metaphor, personification, idiom, imagery, non-literal, or paint a picture with words. Parent translation: help the child notice when words don’t mean exactly what they say — and enjoy the picture — without a jargon quiz every bedtime.
Typical moves: notice a playful line in a picture book; ask Does that mean exactly what it says?; ask What picture does it paint?; later name light labels (simile with like / as, metaphor, personification, everyday idiom); keep the tone curious so the joke stays alive.
The Australian Curriculum: English expects growing skill at exploring how language creates images and effects. Follow this fortnight’s classroom language. Year maps: Prep reading, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6. A Year 1 Phonics Check is about decoding — not a figurative-language quiz. Stay curious — not NAPLAN coaching, and not a poetry-analysis course.
Decode first (mostly), then notice the picture
Working memory is limited. Useful figurative talk needs decent decoding (or a calm read-aloud). When almost every word costs effort, “Is that a simile?” becomes noise. If sounding out is still fragile, start with phonics, phonemic awareness, tricky / heart words, and decodable readers before pushing labels.
On a tough night: use an easier picture book or a short read-aloud for one What does that paint a picture of? — or free the brain with a calm re-read first (fluency, robot reading). Never paper over a word-guessing habit — children still need to engage with the print that carries the playful wording, not invent a fancy image from the cover alone.
Oral notice in picture books — then print
Figurative language sticks better when talk leads the tick-box — same spirit as homework without tears.
Oral first (Prep–Year 2 especially): you model (“I’d say as quiet as a mouse means very quiet — not a real mouse”); invite one notice; ask what picture it paints; enjoy the book without a label quiz.
Then print (as decoding allows, deepening Years 3–6): one short story or poem line; “What does that paint a picture of?”; try light school words if they help (simile, metaphor, personification, idiom); if they invent without reading, return to the print (guessing). If the worksheet turns tense, go back to oral.
Skip rigid “find every figurative device” hunts. Everyday notice first — funny picture / not exactly true — then school labels when they stick. One clear notice with a page clue beats three forced ticks with no link. Not a poetry-analysis course — parent spotting only.
Toolkit: simile, metaphor, personification, light idiom
One helpful parent sentence: “Does that mean exactly what it says — or what picture does it paint?”
- Simile — compares using like or as: as quiet as a mouse; ran like the wind
- Metaphor — says one thing is another (no like/as): The classroom was a zoo; He is a shining star
- Personification — gives human action or feeling to something non-human: The wind whispered; The moon smiled
- Idiom (light) — everyday phrase whose meaning isn’t word-for-word: piece of cake (easy); under the weather (unwell) — keep light; don’t stockpile obscure sayings
- Literal — means exactly what it says: The dog sat on the mat
- Why authors use it — to help readers see, feel, or enjoy a moment more vividly — not to trick kids on a test
Fiction examples: as brave as a lion → simile (like/as); Her heart was ice → metaphor; The trees danced in the breeze → personification; It’s raining cats and dogs → light idiom (heavy rain). Multilingual homes: notice the picture in the home language first, then one English sentence with the playful line. Sibling habits above are different jobs. Not a vocabulary deep dive or poetry workshop.
Without killing the joke: smile first, share the picture, then (if helpful) name the label. “That’s funny — the moon can’t smile, so it means it looked friendly” beats “Name the figurative device: personification.”
Home games (5–10 minutes, keep it friendly)
Stop while playful. Prefer spoken What does that paint a picture of? before formal device worksheets.
- Does it mean exactly that? — after a playful line: literal or picture?
- What picture? — one sentence: “It makes me see / feel …”
- Like or as? — spot a light simile (as quiet as a mouse)
- Is / was? — spot a light metaphor (the classroom was a zoo)
- Human spark? — spot light personification (the wind whispered)
- Not theme / traits / POV alone — theme, character traits, point of view
- Not purpose / sequence / summary / main idea alone — author’s purpose, sequence, summarising, main idea
- Not the whole strategies quiz — one clear notice with a page clue beats a toolkit barrage (umbrella)
Prefer matched picture books and short stories. Keep it kind — and keep the joke.
What "going fine" can look like (generous variation)
By late Prep through Year 6, many children can notice that some lines don’t mean exactly what they say, say what picture they paint, and (later, often Years 3–6) use light labels like simile, metaphor, personification, or a familiar idiom. Confidence deepens in Years 3–6 as texts get denser.
Timelines vary — multilingual homes included. Soft sketch only. Watch decoding, fluency, visualising, vocabulary, theme, character traits, and the comprehension strategies set (Prep; Year 2 and up).
When figurative talk stays sticky (careful, non-medical)
If figurative talk still collapses after matched picture books and light home play — every line is taken as strictly literal with no “paint a picture” chat, or they freeze at every label ask — talk kindly with the teacher. Share concrete examples (“reads the moon smiled as a real smile; cannot say what picture it paints”).
Check foundations: phonics, phonemic awareness, decodables, fluency, guessing, vocabulary, and book difficulty. See when to worry about reading, Is my child behind in reading?, and how to help a struggling reader. Hearing and vision checks are ordinary early supports.
This guide does not diagnose dyslexia, speech–language disorders, or any medical or learning condition. Only schools and qualified specialists make those assessments. Tips here are general parent strategies — not a treatment plan or NAPLAN coach.
FAQ
What is figurative language in reading?
Non-literal language that paints a picture — simile (like / as), metaphor, personification, light idiom — usually starting with oral What does that paint a picture of? before worksheets.
Are figurative language and theme the same?
No. Theme is the big idea / message about people or life. Figurative language is how some wording creates images or effects. Kitchen: “friendship matters” vs “as quiet as a mouse.”
Are figurative language and character traits the same?
No. Character traits are what a person in the story is like. Figurative language is non-literal wording anywhere in the text.
Simile vs metaphor — in plain words?
A simile compares with like or as (as quiet as a mouse). A metaphor says one thing is another without like/as (the classroom was a zoo).
How is this different from comprehension strategies at home?
Comprehension strategies at home owns the set. This page owns figurative-language teach-through: oral notice, simile / metaphor / personification / light idiom, What does that paint a picture of? without killing the joke; Prep–Year 6.
Is this a poetry-analysis course?
No. This page helps parents spot non-literal language with kids — not a full poetry workshop or literary-device catalogue.
When do Australian schools teach this?
From playful picture-book notice in Prep through denser labels in Years 3–6. Follow classroom language this fortnight.
Must my child use the exact worksheet label?
No. A clear “not really smiling — it looked friendly” with a page clue beats a forced personification tick with no link.
A calm next step
Figurative language clicks with one playful line, oral “What does that paint a picture of?”, light simile / metaphor / personification / idiom talk, and keeping the joke alive before worksheets. Try one “paint a picture?” notice tonight. If you also want a low-pressure look at early reading skills at home, Ziado's free check is a one-off, roughly 10-minute adaptive diagnostic with partial results only — no account and no card. The full placement unlocks after signup. It is not a figurative-language quiz, not a dyslexia or speech screen, not medical advice, and not a NAPLAN practice test. Explore Ziado reading afterward if you want adaptive practice. Individual and Family plans start with a 14-day free trial — see pricing.
Figurative language paints word pictures; place and time sit in story setting for parents.
Figurative language paints words; story shape sits in story structure for parents.
Figurative language paints words; story conflict sits in story conflict for parents.
Figurative language paints words; talk on the page sits in story dialogue for parents.
Figurative language paints feeling; story mood sits in story mood for parents.
Figurative language can signal attitude; how the writer sounds sits in author tone for parents.
Curious which reading skills need practice?
Ziado's free check is a one-off, roughly 10-minute adaptive diagnostic with partial results only - no account, no card. It is not a figurative-language quiz, and not a dyslexia screen.
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