Okay, let's imagine the words 'literal' and 'figurative' are like two best friends. They are both used to describe things, but they do it in different ways. When we talk about something in a literal way, we mean exactly what we say. It's like telling a story about a cat that actually happened - a real cat did those things. For example, imagine you say, 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.' If you mean you can eat a whole horse, that's literal! But if you mean you're just very hungry, that's figurative.
Now, when we talk about something in a figurative way, it's like we're using our imagination and playing with words. Let's think about our friend the cat again. If we say the cat 'ate like a pig,' it doesn't mean the cat really ate like a pig (because cats don't eat like pigs!). It's just a fun way of saying the cat ate a lot. That's figurative language - using words in a way that isn't exactly true, but helps us express our feelings and ideas.
Another way to understand this is by thinking about pictures. A literal picture shows things exactly as they are, like a photo. But a figurative picture might use colors and shapes that aren't exactly realistic - they are more like a painting or a drawing that shows the artist's feelings or ideas.
So, to sum it up, when we talk literally, we mean what we say exactly like it really happened, but when we talk figuratively, we use our imagination and play with words to express things in a more creative and colorful way. I hope that helps you understand the difference between literal and figurative language!