Lining up toys and autism?

[Toddlermummy9]

What is meant by “lining up toys” as a sign of autism? My 2 yo will take our dining chairs, for example, or baskets of toys, and line them up in a row and pretend it’s a tube train. It’s always a tube train, and she always does it quite tidily. She doesn’t line up other things. She doesn’t show any other signs of autism and is nursery three days a week where they haven’t had any concerns. Is this something to speak with a HV about?

Doesn’t sound like autism to me absent any other traits. Sounds like she’s using her imagination and really likes tube trains x

No, that's not what is meant. And 'lining up toys' is a very weak/minor sign anyway - lots of toddlers line up toys, and some children with autism don't.

I don’t think it’s something that would be taken to signal Autism on its own, just as a part of wider pattern of behaviours. My DD always lined up her toys, we were similarly concerned but told the above by the HV, she is 8 now and no suggestion of any kind of ND.

That is simply a 'schema', part of normal development and on its own isn't indicative of autism.

I wouldn't worry about this. DS has been lining up toys for years and nothing has ever been mentioned about autism!

He has a friend with autism who also obsessively lines up toys but there are obviously other signs whilst he is (reciting the colours of the cars as he goes, frantic meltdowns if anyone touches or moves a car accidentally)

My youngest DS was a real liner upper, in shoe shops he’d put all the shoes people have tried on back on the shelves in perfect rows. He was the same with his toys, and if I put the wrong car in the wrong box he would tip hundreds of them on the carpet, find the dodgy car, remove it and put them all back in the box. He was really into counting too, now he is 24 and has definitely out grown this and his room is the most messy in the house. He’s an Economics graduate so the counting but stayed with him.

I think it's one of those indicators that nearly every parent worries about at some point because almost all small children like to line stuff up. Just because they do.

My eldest DS lined up toys, didn't play appropriately with toys (like no brumm-brumm noises whilst lining up his cars), limited eye contact, not big on turning to look if called, tiptoe walking, a bit of hand flapping.

He had an assessment at 20 months where the paediatrician wasn't too concerned but wanted to see him again in sixth months, and for us to keep a log.

Anyway, he's 25 now and 100% not in any way autistic! And yes, with the messiest room in the house!

I want to add that had he been, it would have been okay, we would have adapted around it as a family.

As above, normal patterns of developmental play, called schema. Well researched.

Have a read about them. I have worked extensively with nurseries that plan play for children using schema. Providing support for schema helps child development, extending interest and therefore focus.

No reason to worry at all.
From the linked page, but many out there…

‘Positioning - lining things up in a row’.

https://www.famly.co/blog/play-schemas-and-why-they-matter

If there is no other signs you've noticed then I would not assume autism on just lining up stuff.

And not all autistic children do the lining things up, putting things in an order. It's a bit of a red herring.

That sounds like normal imaginative play.

This is what is meant by "lining up".