To wonder ASD child expression?

[summerhols24]

So we're at a theme park this weekend. My youngest deffo enjoyed it. He's NT. I’m sure older one tho. He's 6 and autistic. but with any new place like a theme park etc, he tends to have a very neutral expression and doesn’t always show his enjoyment. Not sure why but I do notice it a lot at new days out etc. He was the same at peppa world and chessington last year

My ASD DD is 12. Today was the first time she told me she actually liked doing something. You'd never guess by looking at her face. It felt like a real breakthrough.

It's masking - DD15 literally masked all the time, it took so much out of her she had a breakdown and has been pretty much home ever since. She does small trips out but the mask goes straight up, she's fine at home and even with some friendly family and friends

I'm autistic and don't show much expression, I didn't even realise until I was a young adult after several people pointed out they couldn't read me/I don't look happy/don't look excited/don't smile much. Now I'm aware of it I do try and make an effort to make expressions for some people. I don't think anyone should have to mask like that though unless it is their choice.

Once we got back to hotel he was back to laughing and smiling lots. He usually smiles a lot although didn't for the first 2-3 years of his life. It's just when he's new places he's different

I'm ND.

He's could be masking or in a shutdown. He could also be unmasked and not feeling the need to "perform" enjoyment iyswim? In that case, as it's new and a rarer event he hasn't quite learned what the script is for how to perform appropriate theme park behaviour/expression. My unmasked face looks like Resting Bitch Face but if I let you see it means I'm comfortable with you and don't have to pretend to be NT...confusing I know!

If you can ask him about how he felt at the theme park you might be able to find out which of the three.

I have to say though that often days out and things that NT people would find fun can be really overwhelming for us and not fun at all (I hate holidays for example) so it could be that's anxious and is in survival mode, shutting down rather than melting down.

Once we got back to hotel he was back to laughing and smiling lots

This absolutely sounds like he's been masking and is relieved to be just with his "safe people".

@PerkyMintDeer thanks for detailed response. He does speak but is delayed and doesn't often want to talk (I think so anyway) only to tell us his needs etc. So asking him/having that conversation isn't an option right now

But yea I guess not knowing how to act in these situations does make sense. We don't go to theme parks very often only once or twice a year and this was the first time this year so makes sense was unsure what to do