2 year old

[MamaAl27]

Hi all,

I hope all is well.

I was wondering if the below were fairly typical toddler behaviours?

• Stuffs food into mouth
  
• Loves wheels and will lay down to side playing with the cars
  
• Obsessed with alphabet and numbers
  
• Won’t go on little rides
  
• Very shy - won’t socialise with peers but will with older children, but does occasionally play with peers at nursery and will always be intrigued by them and look at them
  
• No yes or no responses yet
  
• Starts dancing when he sees peers
  
• Started lining up a couple of toys but not massively interested in doing it, does it and then just walks off and moves onto something new.
  
  He is however very good at knowing what things are, will listen to instructions, knows who people are, has around 100 words, fine at transition and in new environments, will go off to explore.
  
  I do think maybe he could be autistic, which does not bother me if he does, I just know that early intervention is good and I would want is best for him :)
  
  
  I do suffer fairly badly from post natal anxiety, which I am going to counselling for and I am on medication to try and ease my anxiety. So unsure if I just have anxiety or if instincts may be correct. Nursery do not have concerns.

[MamaAl27]

He does look at peers whenever they walk past and has been known to play peek a boo with the babies at nursery.

[MamaAl27]

Thank you. In regards to the lining up, he does for all of 3 mins and walks away and then will come back to it to drive the cars along and is not bothered if I move one and play with it with him. The communication piece is worrying, he has only just started letting us know he is hungry with makaton. He will only very rarely say yes please. If we give him a choice of books for example which one would you like dinosaur or monkey he will reply with monkey. We have our 2 year review in a couple of weeks, I’m just unsure if I’m being an over worrier or if my concerns are valid. I’m a FTM so all of it is brand new sort of thing as I can barely remember what my niece and nephew were like at this age 😂

[skkyelark]

I’d say the vast majority of that is normal for the age, especially if he is only just two, rather than almost three. With lining things up and spinning things, those are activities that most small children will do at some point – spinning tops are a classic toy for a reason. It would become more concerning if he doesn’t ‘drive’ a toy car as part of (very simple) pretend play, only wants to watch its wheels spin, or if he spends a lot of time lining things up and gets very upset if his line is changed.

With socialising, not many children can really play with same-age peers at just two – they need an older child or adult who can support the ‘together’ aspect of the play. Playing nearby and looking curiously at what other children are doing is completely typical, perhaps managing a brief game of chase. Playing together tends to emerge nearer three, but it’s still pretty simple and pretty chaotic!

The one thing on your list that stands out to me is not answering yes or no. Does he answer other sorts of questions (including by pointing), for example if you give him a choice? Things like ‘Do you want an apple or a banana?’ or ‘The red shirt or the blue one?’. Can he ask for things he wants (in one or two words)?

[PritiPatelsMaker]

It's been a while since mine were that age @MamaAl27 and I can't really remember how much of that is normal.

If you are concerned at all though I'd do the MChat test, just to see what his risk of ASD is

[MamaAl27]

And also points to things of interest, uses vocabulary in correct context.

[MamaAl27]

Forgot to say he also drags our hand to dance with him and share joint attention. When he has something new he will show to us.