Is lining up related to autism?
The short answer is yes and no. Lining up toys is a common stereotype of a sign of autism. Many autistic children line up toy cars, trains, and stuffed animals. But, autistic kids aren’t the only kids who do so.
Young children of all neurotypes enjoy the sense of order that organizing through play brings. Further, autistic kids are all unique which means that many will not line up toys at all.
Let’s look at common traits of autism and how lining up toys may or may not be a sign of autism in your child.
Why Do Kids Line Up Toys?
Concerned parents often worry when their children spend time lining up toys. This is unfortunate for a variety of reasons. Whether a child is autistic or not, young children line up toys and other objects for a purpose.
One reason that toddlers and other young children line up their toys is that it’s a natural thing to do. In fact, it’s a healthy type of play schema called positioning play schema. Additionally, as any occupational therapist will tell you, young children organizing small toys is a great way to strengthen fine motor skills.
Positioning Play Schema
Positioning play schema is a type of play where a child explores the abstract concept of position through play.
A schema is a pattern of repetitive behaviors that helps organize and interpret information around us. Specific to play, a play schema is one way kids engage in play and develop problem-solving skills. This type of play includes:
- sorting by color
- arranging on the basis of size
- categorizing by type
- classifying
- sequencing
- order
These are all important concepts and skills that prepare a child for later learning. So, when you see your child line up his toy trains, know that they’re on the right path for them. Please don’t stop them. Early childhood free play should be encouraged as much as possible.
Autism and Unique Social Skills
Autism experts such as autistic adults often refer to autism as a unique neurotype. This means that autistic people, like everyone else in this world, are not disordered, but different. According to EmbraceAutism.com, Autism is:
A neurodevelopmental difference characterized by alterations in social functioning, hypersensitivity to stimuli, repetitive behaviors, and deep interests—often combined with advanced cognitive & perceptive abilities.”
Autistic children and adults can be different from non-autistic people in the following ways:
- social interaction
- facial expressions are often not a preferred method of autistic communication
- social communication
- some engage in nonverbal communication using AAC
- sensory experiences
- loud noises may cause intense distress
- language skills
- many autistic children use echolalia, for example
- motor development
In the end, a strengths-based lens offers hope, encouragement, and support to both neurodivergent children and adults.
Seeking an Autism Diagnosis?
If you’re considering getting your child evaluated for autism, you’ll have to work within the confines of the current medical system.
This means that your child’s autism will be pathologized under the current DSM-V diagnostic criteria. According to the current medical model, autism symptoms include:
- lack of eye contact
- delays in language skills
- repetitive movements
- hand flapping, bouncing
- lining up toys
- rigid routines
- sensory sensitivities
- both autistic and non-autistic children may have strong reactions to sensory input
- Bright lights may cause sensory overwhelm and distress
So, yes. The DSM-V diagnostic criteria indeed indicate lining up toys as one of the early signs of autism.
Outdated Criteria for Autism
However, it’s generally agreed that the symptoms of autism as laid out in the DSM-V are very outdated.
For example, the criteria say autistic children fail to initiate or respond to social interactions. This is based on limited data based on males and not females.
Further, autistic girls often engage in imaginative play as well as seek out social interactions. Additionally, we know that regardless of gender, autistic children are often forced to mask their behaviors to survive the social world. This indicates a high level of social awareness.
Lining Up Toys Doesn’t Tell Us Much
If you notice your child’s propensity for order. For example,
- a long line of cars lined up by size
- collection of stuffed animals organized by type
- or crayons lined up by color
You’ve got one piece of information. Your child lines up different toys. Yes, that’s one symptom of autism, but it certainly doesn’t mean your child is autistic. Many children organize their toys for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with autism.
Reasons Behind Lining Up Toys
Lining up toys may be related to a child’s level of anxiety. In theory, it could be an early sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
However, it’s just as likely that your child simply enjoys organization and order. As a woman with ADHD, I’m convinced that the organizational skills demonstrated by lining up toys are a very good thing.
As mentioned earlier, some experts consider lining up toys part of an important developmental phase. Of course, that begs the question. What signs of autism should you look for in your child?
Developmental Milestones and Autism
If you’re wondering if your child is autistic, it’s important to look for a cluster of traits. Specifically, look at your child’s development over time. Does your child show signs of developmental delay in several different areas?
There’s a difference between missing one developmental milestone compared to multiple. Consider the timing of your child’s development in these areas, for example.
Gross Motor Developmental Milestones
When did your child…
- Sit up?
- Crawl?
- Point?
- Walk?
Developmental Milestones in Communication Skills:
When did your child begin to…
- Engage in shared attention?
- Smile?
- Babble?
- Coo?
- Say their first words?
- String together more than one word?
Social Skill Milestones:
Have these social milestones been met at the general developmental stage?
- Points to an object to share with you?
- Look at a few pages of a book with you?
- Keeps parent in their line of sight?
Both you and your child’s pediatrician will keep an eye on these things. For example, let’s look at the typical 18-month developmental phase.
Example Cluster of Milestones
According to the Centers for Disease Control, at the typical 18-month well-child visit, pediatricians look for the following milestones.
Can your child…?
- Say, “Mama” and “Dada” plus an additional 3 words?
- Walk?
- Climb on the couch?
- Follow 1-step directions?
- Point to something to get your attention?
If multiple milestones aren’t present, then it’s time to consider these as red flags. Fortunately, if you’re concerned your child needs extra developmental support, early intervention is key.
Play in Autistic vs Non-Autistic Toddlers
If typically-developing children show a lack of interest in the activities your child enjoys, don’t panic.
Every child is different, and your child is who they are for a wonderful reason. Further, differences in the type of play in young children seem to have more to do with attachment and less to do with autism.
Attachment and Play
In one study of autistic and non-autistic toddler development, researchers saw no difference in the play behaviors between the two groups of young children. In fact, the most profound differences in play were related to attachment style between child and parent.
The quality of the parent-child relationship appears to contribute substantially to the development of play in young children regardless of their autistic symptoms.
Play Behavior and Attachment in Toddlers with Autism
My point is that lining up toys and differences in play aren’t the best variables to consider.
Pretend Play
As parents, we’d all agree that our ultimate goal is for our children to thrive into adulthood, autistic or not. This means that we must look at the bigger picture. Playing is important and will look different in autistic and non-autistic kids.
For example, a typically developing child will show the beginnings of pretend play between the ages of 1 and 2 years old. Some examples of pretend play include:
- dressing up in costumes
- playing with a baby doll
- driving toy cars or trucks while making sound effects
Pretend play allows children opportunities to “practice” life skills including language skills, social skills, and processing their experiences.
And while an autistic child’s play may look different from a non-autistic child’s play, it doesn’t make their play less important. As such, encourage your child’s ability to engage with the world freely.
Scripting Is Play
Some argue that older children engaging in scripted play is not real play. This is absurd.
New theories of language acquisition believe that many autistic children learn differently.
The autistic child who is happily repeating the lines of a movie or a television show is not behaving in a disordered way but rather is acquiring language. Our understanding of Gestalt Language Processors offers hope and validation to many autistic children and adults.
If your child’s propensity is to organize toys in different positions or line up crayons according to color, don’t assume this is a bad thing. Be your child’s play partner and be curious. Focus on your relationship and be their safe person.
Play in Parent-Child Relationships
Regardless of your child’s age or neurotype, play is an essential part of development. And just because a child plays differently does not make it wrong.
It’s important to encourage and engage your child in play by following their lead.
Rather than trying to control your child’s way of playing to make it more “typical,” join your child and follow their lead.
By following your child’s lead, four essentials occur.
- Your child learns that you’re a safe person,
- You value who they are,
- They can trust you (increases attachment)
- Communication skills develop
- (speaking or non-verbal)
We cannot influence our children if they don’t want to hear us. When kids feel safe with us, they’re better able to hear us. Then they’re more willing to try new things. I believe those at Harvard would agree with me.
Harvard Tells Us to Play
Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child notes three key components to thriving in childhood.
- Supporting Responsive Relationships
- Strengthening Core Life Skills
- Reducing Sources of Stress
They explain that playing is an effective way to encourage responsive relationships, core life skills, and stress reduction.
Simple Play
The best part is that you don’t have to buy your child the new popular toy to support them at a very young age. For a simple idea, try these pretend-play ice cream shop printables.
Follow their lead with patience and curiosity. Avoid trying to control or manipulate your child for fear that they’re different. A safe relationship is key to your child thriving into adulthood.
Learn More in Behind the Behavior Book!
Recap: Is Lining Up Toys Related to Autism?
So, is lining up toys autism related?
As mentioned earlier, both autistic children and typically developing children enjoy lining up their toys in play. And, if your child is autistic, other traits may be more insightful than lining up toys. Some potential signs of autism include difficulties with:
- gross and fine motor skills,
- speech and language,
- sensory
- signs of anxiety, and
- emotional development
If you’re concerned about any potential developmental delays in your child, talk with your child’s pediatrician. Early diagnosis and early intervention with a strengths-based team are essential to supporting your child’s overall well-being.
In the end, be curious about your child’s intense interests and join them in play. So, Friend. What do you think?
About the Author:
Lindsay is a trauma-informed educator with a Master’s Degree in Teaching. Her mission is to support moms to equip neurodivergent kids (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Anxiety) to thrive as exactly who they’ve been created to be. Wait until you hear the story that led to it all…
