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Original poster

DS lining things up

42 replies

ThorsMistress · 25/02/2021 10:50

Hi all

Posting here for traffic

DS is 2 (born September) and likes to line things up. Cars, pens, juice bottles etc. Basically anything he can. He doesn’t say a lot in regards to speaking, only a few words, although he does babble all the time. He’s currently under speech therapy and has a hearing test booked in for March.

He’s currently at play school and I have just received a call from them as he is finding it hard to settle, so she calls me to let me know how he’s is. The play school manager said he’s absolutely fine and very little tears, and he’s currently sat lining pens up. She went on to say that I mentioned he does this a lot, and have I spoken to his HV about this?

To be honest I haven’t! But now I’m thinking I should? She quite often asks me questions about his behaviour and all the questions she asks are questions around his being on the spectrum.

I will love him regardless but I’m now thinking I should be seeking help for him? Thank you if you made it this far!

OP posts:
Ilovemycat13 · 25/02/2021 10:52

I don’t have a lot to add however, my nephew around the same age would constantly line things up. Anything he could. He lined up the entire spice rack once along the kitchen counter. He’s a perfectly lovely normal 9 year old now ☺️ There isn’t always an underlying issue. But of course if you’re worried, talk to your HV or GP.

user1471523870 · 25/02/2021 10:58

I have no idea but can only comment that my two year old likes to line things up as well. He's not obsessed by it, but it's really not unusual that he lines up his cars or his cheerios for instance.
On the other hand my nightmare is that he really like to then throw them away! I don't get the point of lining them up in a nice way and then -boom- all of them thrown on the floor/across the room or scattered around. Toddler mystery to me.
I have no concerns about both 'activities' and hopefully it's just a phase/normal thing for them to do.

Snowymcsnowsony · 25/02/2021 10:59

8 boys here. Every single one went through phase of lining up cars..
Trucks.
Everything.. Never came to anything untoward..

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Indecisivelurcher · 25/02/2021 11:01

I think lining things up is a normal developmental stage. Both of mine did it.

ofwarren · 25/02/2021 11:01

My now 5 year old used to do the same.
He doesn't show any ASD signs now.

CatRatSplat · 25/02/2021 11:01

I was told it was one of the stages of learning by my HV, and is a good thing they do and should be encouraged.

Camomila · 25/02/2021 11:02

Lining things up is an example of schematic play, lots of toddlers go through a 'lining things up' stage.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 25/02/2021 11:03

I think lining things up is very common amongst toddlers and in isolation I would see this as age-appropriate behaviour. Both of my children have gone through stages where they liked to line things up.

It sounds like (founded or unfounded) the nursery manager has other concerns she has raised?

Scrunchy95 · 25/02/2021 11:05

For a child, this age to be fascinated with order shows him to be an intelligent and mature young boy. If he is centered and happy, just enjoy learning who he is as he grows and expresses himself.

TerribleCustomerCervix · 25/02/2021 11:06

My DD (3) is very likely to be on the spectrum, but only very rarely lines things up.

DS (nearly 2) loves organising and lining stuff up but the rest of his interactions and sociability means that my Mum Sense isn’t tingling like it did with DD.

They’re all different, but if you think there’s an issue definitely pursue it- mainly so he can settle at school and enjoy it when he starts.

DD’s SLT said that even if she’s diagnosed, it’s not going to stop her doing whatever she wants to do, it just means she might do it in a different way with more support.

Chewingle · 25/02/2021 11:09

I love a bit of lining things up even now!

Both mine did the same

No “on the spectrum” here

BakedBeeeen · 25/02/2021 11:10

My toddler used to do it all the time. He’s now nearly 7 and still likes to order his toys and often “displays” them on the carpet in an ordered fashion. It makes him so happy to do this! He shows no signs of ASD but is definitely introverted.

MoreMorelos · 25/02/2021 11:13

My eldest did this, would even walk around Tesco lining things up on the shelves, he's now an average 18 year old with no organisational skills 😂

Original poster
ThorsMistress · 25/02/2021 11:16

Thank you all for your replies!

There is literally nothing else to suggest he could possibly be on the spectrum. He makes eye contact, he plays with his brother and his brothers friend, he loves a cuddle and very rarely tantrums.

It’s just his speech and the lining up of objects. I feel like his play school manger wants there to be something wrong with him! She’s always bombarding me with questions about him. It’s making me feel like I want to move him!

He is so so loved and always will be!

OP posts:
HexWitch · 25/02/2021 11:17

All 3 of mine loved doing this at your DS' age, whether it was books or toys or pens or anything! All 3 no issues with asd or adhd.

Sevensilverrings · 25/02/2021 11:18

It sounds like this is one of a few concerns, felt by nursery staff and you? On its own it doesn’t mean anything, but it could be part of the picture? There are online tests that help a little with looking for clues to ASD, maybe try one?
My (perfectly lovely, ‘normal’, to quote a PP) son who has ASD did this at that age but, crucially, he still did this at later stages to the exclusion of other types of play, and it was definitely part of a picture. My other son, who is neurotypical, did this too at about that age, but also made great eye contact, pointed, chatted, and played with me. He had an interest in the world unfolding around him in a way that was qualitatively different to my DS1. Of course, that’s easy to spot now they are teens, but at the time I thought it was just personality. DS1 wasn’t diagnosed until much later.
All the best, it’s hard when they are so young and you have worries about development, worries can’t usually be addressed until they grow, and they grow slowly when your concerned.

FuckyouBrennan · 25/02/2021 11:21

There is still everything chance he could have ASD and personally I would call the HV, it’s a spectrum because you don’t have to tick every box.

Mylittlepony374 · 25/02/2021 11:27

In my experience (son awaiting ASD diagnostic assessment, worked with kids with ASD a lot in my career) preschool don't mention things unless significantly concerned. Ask your speech therapist directly do they think your child could be on the spectrum. They should have an idea. Speak to your health visitor too. If he does need extra help then the earlier he gets it, the better for him and you.

Original poster
ThorsMistress · 25/02/2021 11:29

@Mylittlepony374

He’s only had a total of 5 sessions at play school so far each session only being 3 hours. Is this long enough to gage?

OP posts:
Nellythemouse · 25/02/2021 11:32

Both my children lined stuff up. One is very definitely NT and it was just a passing phase and part of their play - so they would also move the cars around, invent stories around them etc. My child with ASD only lined up the cars, usually in colour order - they didn’t also play with them imaginatively. Wasn’t just cars, they also did it with blocks, books etc. It was a very long phase. They were also late talking. There was a whole parade of other flags though too, many of which I’ve only really noticed with hindsight.

At the time we didn’t really do much about it but nursery did talk to us a lot about “having trouble settling”, “not interested in other children, beyond the usual age for parallel play”, “difficulty with noise” etc. They obviously saw a lot of children and were gently steering us towards concluding ourselves that yes, child wasn’t quite developing the same way as their peers. They were finally diagnosed with ASD in primary school. Child is awesome and funny and kind and has a really interesting perspective on things - they’ll maybe need some extra support with some things but that’s fine.

Since nursery keep bringing up concerns I’d be tempted to ask for a meeting with the senco and manager/your child’s keyworker and have an open discussion about it. We spent a lot of time skirting round things with nursery, in hindsight I should have pursued it more directly earlier.

JustHereWithPopcorn · 25/02/2021 11:35

Yes my little boy lines everything and anything up especially cars! He used to be very obsessed with it but has slightly grown out of it now at 2.5 years. I think it's normal as my friends 2 year olds also do the same.

Isadora2007 · 25/02/2021 11:36

Does he point to things? Follow your verbal commands to “look out the window at the bus” type thing? Lining things alone isn’t really an issue but using it as a coping strategy may well not be expected by the staff. There is no harm in asking the SLT their view or contacting your GP if you’re concerned. But the nursery staff should know about schemas... so it’s a bit off they’re jumping right to an assumption of ASD if based on this alone.

Nellythemouse · 25/02/2021 11:37

I’ve just seen this is five sessions in!! Way too early to be worried unless there’s a lot more you haven’t said, they should let him settle in properly first. I’d assumed he’d been there a while. They might just be trying to understand what he’s like so they can properly support him though, I’m sure they aren’t questioning how loved he is. Maybe ask them if you can discuss after his hearing test, after he’s settled down a bit more and maybe with some input from the speech therapist.

JosephineBaker · 25/02/2021 11:39

One of mine lined things up all the time, and yes, he is on the spectrum, but that is only one small part of who he is.

BlackeyedSusan · 25/02/2021 11:41

they are comparing him to lots of children so may be likely to see the subtle differences.

lining things up is a classic example of an autistic trait.

did he point to things, did he wave goodbye and did he put his arms up to be picked up when little?

does he have sensory issues? eg liking the bath tepid? liking to lean on you a lot, not liking certain foods? not liking noises, overly startle response to loud noises?

does he like watching wheels go round, (mine hung over the edge of the pushchair watching them. )

one of mine went to speech therapy as well at two.

all autistic.

better get help early than wait. The waiting list is very long and having a diagnosis makes them better able to access the help they deserve from school. ask preschool for their specific concerns. look into it and if there is enough evidence to be worried speak to your GP. Speech therapists will be experts in communication so they may be able to see signs that you and school won't. all adds to the picture.