What Is Real vs Fiction?
Real vs Fiction helps young readers tell the difference between things that really happen and things that are made up. This builds understanding of stories and the world around them. Children look at words and pictures to decide if something is true or pretend.
Real or Fiction?
- Real: A boy eats cereal for breakfast.
- Fiction: A dinosaur rides a skateboard.
Why It Matters
Knowing the difference between real life and fiction helps children understand what is possible and what is imaginary. It supports reading comprehension, thinking skills, and making sense of new ideas.
- At home: Talk about books or TV shows—ask, “Could that really happen?”
- At school: Teachers read both fiction and nonfiction books and ask children to tell them apart.
- In real life: Children learn to ask, “Is this real?” when they hear or read something new.
How to Teach Real vs Fiction
Children learn by reading books, looking at pictures, and asking questions. With practice, they begin to notice clues that help them decide if a story could really happen or not.
Practice Tips:
- Ask: “Can that really happen?”
- Use two books—one real, one fiction—and compare them.
- Point out silly or magical things in made-up stories.
Fun Ways to Practice Real vs Fiction
1. Book Sort
Gather books and help your child place them into “Real” or “Fiction” piles.
2. Real or Make-Believe Game
Say a sentence like “A pig plays the piano,” and ask: “Real or fiction?”
3. Picture Walk
Look at pictures in a story and ask what looks real and what looks silly or pretend.
4. Fact and Fantasy Chart
Make a chart with two columns: “Real” and “Fiction.” Add examples as you read books together.
5. Act It Out
Have your child act out real things (like brushing teeth) and silly things (like flying cows). Ask: “Could that really happen?”
Using This Skill in the Real World
- Books: “The girl went to the dentist.” = Real
- TV: “The car turned into a robot.” = Fiction
- Everyday Talk: “Can that happen in real life?”
Common Challenges
Children may think fun or silly things are real because they see them in cartoons or books. With questions and support, they learn to tell what is possible.
- Believing fiction: Thinking pretend things are real
- Mixing up: Not sure if something could happen
- Not checking: Forgetting to look for clues in the pictures or words
Focus Vocabulary: Real vs Fiction Words
- real – Something that actually happens (He went to school)
- fiction – Something that is made up (A cat sings a song)
- pretend – Not real, just for fun (She pretends to fly)
- true – A fact or something that really happened
- make-believe – A story from someone’s imagination
Tips for Helping Your Child
- Use simple books with clear real or pretend ideas
- Ask questions like “Could that happen?” or “Is that true?”
- Point out silly parts of a story to show it’s fiction
- Use real-life examples from your child’s day
- Praise them when they tell what is real and what is not
Keep Practicing!
Learning the difference between real and fiction builds reading skills, curiosity, and imagination. With books, pictures, and simple questions, your child can grow into a smart and thoughtful reader.