Teacher describing child as "quirky"

[Crunchymum]

Interested to hear what people (and teachers who are of course people ) think?

Is it a complimentary?

Very positive overall report of rather chatty and headstrong reception child.

What do we reckon about the word quirky?

My son gets described as quirky, I’m well aware that he comes across as a bit ‘weird’ so I’m not surprised when people point it out.

That they have personality, not just a bland child.

My son was described as quickly when he was little.

He's autistic

Best compliment ever!
I had a quirky kid, she was universally adored for being kind, funny and individual. She is now clinically quirky (ASD diagnosed) young lady who still lights up the lives of people around her!
Always massively proud of quirky!

I would use it as a compliment. ‘Unusual, and endearing‘- rather than ‘weird and difficult’.

Autistic.

I would take it as a compliment (and I'm 50+) . I never wanted to be a sheep!

It mean, “I’m fairly certain your child is autistic but I’m not a paediatrician so I can’t diagnose them.”

100% not autistic. (DC3 is)

Seems very similar to her peers, very chatty and bubbly and chatty (did I mention chatty )

Autism comes in many flavours.

I would say a polite way of saying annoying personally

Iv referred to my 3 kids as quirky, iv even referred to myself as having quirks...i use it to refer to an individuals little habits, certainly not an insult..more an affectionate term

One of mine has always been quirky. She knows what she likes. Knows who she wants to be, has interesting slightly unusual ideas sometimes but is bright and sociable. Better than s sheep.

Aren't all 4/5 year olds quirky?!

Take it as a compliment!

My DS is quirky as are his friends - all have various combinations of neurodiversities. A teacher saying quirky usually means ASD to me.

Determined little bugger who doesn't conform.

I would mean it as a compliment - dry sense of humour or an out of the box thinker.

I might be quirky though.

I am a teacher and probably wouldn't ever use it in a report (in case it was misconstrued!) but I do sometimes WANT to use it to describe a really interesting, creative, unusual child! And would view it as a positive if I saw it written about my own children! Definitely don't equate it definitively with ASD.

I wouldn't put it in a report but, if I said it, it would be a compliment. I love those children who always say the unexpected or see things from a different point of view.

My ds had asd assessment they said he was quirky.

I wouldn't say quirky is calling someone autistic imo.
I get called quirky, never taken it an in insult. I quite like it

My child was also always described as quirky at nursery, year 1 and 2. He was diagnosed as asd just before starting year 4, after year 3 teacher suggested it.

Almost every teacher DD has had has called her quirky. Knowing my child what they mean she’s creative and follows her own path. She’s not autistic, she doesn’t have a single ASD trait.

My son was described as quirky. He is autistic (recently diagnosed). The world would be boring without quirky people.

I like quirky children. Just as well as I have two of my own. As it happens one has ASD, but the other definitely doesn't.

Quirky chidren have clear, distinctive personalities, interests, creativity, something a bit unique. Often in a class, there will be a cluster of children who gel together with very similar interests and personalities and can be hard to distinguish. When I had classes for one hour per week, it could take the best part of the year to get to know some clusters who often even looked alike (same fashions and style)