My 3.5 year old son doesn’t really have friends. He plays with other kids in his class and calls them his friends, but no besties really. He still often prefers to play on his own, in his own way. Is that typical? He seems a bit behind socially. I see other kids his age much more engaged in associative play. He can and does, but is also very content to be with his parents or other adults.
My 3.5 year old son doesn’t really have friends. He plays with other kids in his class and calls them his friends, but no besties really. He still often prefers to play on his own, in his own way. Is that typical? He seems a bit behind socially. I see other kids his age much more engaged in associative play. He can and does, but is also very content to be with his parents or other adults.
I described my 3.5 son to chat gpt (anonymously) and they listed everything here. But I would love to hear from the personal experience of parents here whose kids may have level one autism or ADHD or both and to let me know what you think. I don’t know if any of this will prompt a clear response.
Strengths / Reassuring Features
Makes good eye contact and uses it naturally during interactions.
Responds consistently to his name.
Points to share interest and frequently says “look” to draw others’ attention to things.
Invites others into play (esp when promoted) and asks parents to play with him.
Engages in back-and-forth conversation.
Loves to laugh with others and joke around.
Shares information and enjoys teaching others things he knows.
Notices when peers or his sibling are upset and comments on their emotions.
Interested in other children and joins group play when he is interested in what is happening.
Participates in chasing, running, jumping, and building activities with peers.
Uses a wide range of gestures.
Engages in imaginative pretend play.
Strong understanding of all emotions and can identify them in himself
Pretend cooks and creates imaginative scenarios.
Uses objects symbolically (e.g., couch becomes an ocean, blocks become a castle).
Tolerates changes in routine and enjoys a variety of environments (cottages, vacations)
No significant sensory aversions to noise.
No lining up objects or unusual focus on parts of toys.
Interests are varied and age-appropriate (marvel, blocks, magna tiles, pretend kitchen, parks, water play)
Described by teachers as loving, funny, and affectionate.
Developmental History / Mild Areas of Concern
Pointing emerged somewhat later than average (after 18 months but before age 2).
Mild speech delay when younger.
Joint attention was not particularly natural as a young toddler.
History of some early developmental delays.
Assessed for autism twice, including around age 3, and did not meet criteria.
Current Traits That Could Be Interpreted in Different Ways
Frequently repeats questions even after receiving an answer.
More comfortable conversing with adults than peers.
Appears somewhat behind some peers in reciprocal peer conversation.
Continues to engage in a fair amount of parallel play.
Talks repeatedly about favorite topics.
Occasionally flaps when upset.
Chews on hands when required to sit still.
Becomes clingy and may act sleepy when nervous or overwhelmed.
Can become very attached to favorite toys, although interests are not persistent once out of sight.
Extremely strong-willed and resistant to activities he does not want to do.
Very selective about television shows and movies.
Picky eater at home.
Does not readily try new activities or experiences.
Has difficulty participating in structured group activities like sportball etc but mostly when parents are present.
Easily distracted during group activities if they are not preferred or do not interest him.
May do activities in his own way rather than following group directions (e.g., scribbling instead of making the same craft as peers).
Teachers describe him as highly emotional.
Notices slight smells and rarely comments on tags of clothes, always asks to get changed when he’s wet.
Very much enjoys sensory play
Early Learning / Cognitive Profile
Strong early interest in colours, shapes, letters, and numbers.
Learned colours, shapes, and numbers relatively early.
Enjoys bright colours.
Continues to have some interest in these topics, but the interest has broadened over time.
Interest is not all-consuming and does not dominate play or conversation.
Does not appear hyperlexic.