We had a meeting with nursery recently and they raised some development concerns about our 2 year old (he has literally just turned 2).
He doesn't listen very well, doesn't engage very well with group activities, and his preferred method of play is to line toys up in a row. His language has been a bit limited but is improving a lot now.
He doesn't initiate play with me or his dad, he has to be shown an activity each time otherwise he just reverts to lining his toys up. He does no imaginative play unless directed (eg if I tell him to brush the dolls hair then he'll do it once or twice but that's it, and he never does it spontaneously by himself). He chatters away while lining the toys up but doesn't make them do anything. He likes peg puzzle toys and taking things in and out of boxes/bags and arranging them, and he will sometimes do this for a long time on his own. He doesn't bring me toys to show me and doesn't seem to mind if I'm involved or not. If we sit down to play with him and move the toys around he doesn't get upset, but he doesn't seek us out to play with him either. I just thought he was very independent and the shared play would come later.
He is a very happy smiley and chatty boy at home. He can count to 10, he loves cuddles and is obsessed with books, he will sit on my knee while I read pretty lengthy children's books to him and he remembers the stories and words very quickly. This is the only time he brings something to me - he loves books so he will often pick one and bring it over. He is a little fussy with food but not horrendously so. He has recently taken more interest in other children and smiles at them and wants to engage.
I asked nursery if they thought these were possible flags for autism but they said they would never diagnose or suggest that, and it's just about getting him the right support. They're going to speak to the SEND officer and make a SALT referral. Does this sound like autism? I feel terrible if I've missed all these signs and potentially not supported him properly, I just didn't really realise until nursery presented all the behaviours together.