4 year old behaviour. Neurodiversity?

[Inauthentic]

Almost 4 year old boy. Keeps running away from us and thinks it's funny.
We went out for lunch and cinema today and I am exhausted. He lasted one hour in the restaurant and then kept running away from the table. On the way to the cinema ran on the escalator and tried to sit on the stair, he was all over the place and we had to chase him and grab him a lot. It was not possible to discipline him, he thinks it's funny and just does his own thing.
My partner lost his cool and didn't go to the cinema - he later told me he felt like spanking him.
I took him in and after 30 mins he started wandering. We ended up leaving the cinema.
Is this "normal" or should I be worried?

I don't think it automatically means ASD but some DC with ASD might behave like that. Lunch and cinema is a lot for some 4 year olds to handle anyway. That's a lot of time to sit down and behave. Did he have any opportunity to run around outside before the lunch?

His nursery commented on repetitive movements he does which could be "stimming".
I did some research long time before their comments and I think it might be motor stereotypies.

If he's 4 and Nursery have suggested that he may need some support, have they suggested talking to your GP with a view to getting a referral for assessment?

That's is a good point, he didn't really get a chance to run outside before lunch. He went swimming before lunch with his daddy.
But this running away is a pretty regular behaviour, he often acts like that. In the park, town etc.

Ok so he did get an opportunity to burn off some energy and have some fun.

I agree that the running could be a characteristic of ASD but I also think that your expectations of behaviour from a 4 yo might be too high.

At that age swimming, followed by lunch at home and some play is usually enough. You can add some more activities but they definitely need their down time, to do their own thing during the day.

They didn't suggest it. That was the only time they expressed a concern.
They did mention before he is not very good at putting his shoes and coat on and lagging behind other children when getting ready to go out

Ok if he's stimming, running, and behind his peers I'd ask your HV to do the Ages and Stages. Tell her that Nursery have raised concerns with regarding stimming and gross motor skills.

I'd do an SLT progress checker before calling the HV to see if he needs any support with that too

That's what my partner said afterwards, maybe it was too much.
But his behaviour concerns me. He never put his pyjama on or rarely get dressed in the morning.
We usually have to do it for him and bedtime routine is always such chore because we are constantly chasing after him

One thing that we found that helped was offering a reward for tasks. So if he's got dressed and had his breakfast and cleaned his teeth, whether that's with some assistance or not, he gets 10 minutes of screen time before school/nursery/leaving the house.

Thanks for you replies @PritiPatelsMaker.
I might need to speak to nursery before contacting HV
My partners does all the nursery runs and gets all the feedback but doesn't really asks for more details. I suspect they might comment more on his behaviour if we press some questions.

A reward for tasks might be a good idea

He scored ok on SLT progress checker. He is very good at talking

If he's very good at talking, that too can be a sign of ND. I could have simple conversations with DS at 12 months.