Autistic but chilled out and calm

[Tribe85]

DS is 6, non verbal and on the pathway. Quite sensory and does like routine, not religiously. Not interested in socialising and doesn’t join in class activities. Moving to specialist soon. All professionals note how calm and chilled he is. Any others like this? He rarely has meltdowns and is a happy little boy. By no means bragging that he doesn’t have meltdowns, just interested in other kids with a similar profile.

Yep, DD is like this and still is at 12. Very verbal though!

We occasionally had the odd meltdown at 5 & 6 but very rarely.

Just goes to show, doesn't it, you've met one autistic person etc etc.

He may be overwhelmed in school. Hopefully he will engage more once in his specialist setting in a small group.
I once worked with a young child who was so calm and passive that his peers almost treated him like a doll! He showed no emotion and rarely used any facial expressions. He got a diagnosis and became more animated as he moved through school.

@Zone4flaneur Thats good to hear that he’s still like that. I’m sometimes told that with age he will struggle more and become more frustrated/possibly aggressive…nice to hear that’s not always the case. Was your son ever non verbal?

DD but no, never non verbal.

@Zone4flaneur Sorry, missed it was your DD!

It sounds as if his needs and boundaries are respected in school and at home. Meltdowns only occur due to lack of understanding of needs and pushing an autistic child into situations they can't cope with. I assume your dc would have a meltdown if daily forced into extended group work and forced to play in a crowded playground and join in with hockey or soccer games daily for hours. If meltdowns occur, the environment, lifestyle, teaching, parenting etc need to be reviewed and adapted. And needs change over time, so it's an ongoing process. Calm and happy most of the time is what most autistic people certainly can and should be. Both my 9 and 13 year olds are positively serene since taking them out of school, but can crumble into a screaming mess in the wrong environments.