Does your toddler ignore other kids?
My kid goes out of his way to get away from other kids he did not know. I know they parallel play at this age but when someone wants to swing next to him he'll want to leave. If he's playing with rocks and kids come to play near him, he'll leave. Hr might make brief eye contact but wants nothing to do with them. We had him evaluated and it's not autism. He's very affectionate and plays with family.
Show your support
My son is the opposite and seeks out other kids and they all seem to be like your son🤦🏽♀️
It sounds like he is shy / lacking the confidence with others, just keep taking him to places where he has the chance to be around other children and hopefully his confidence will grow. I will add though, it's very very uncommon for autism to be diagnosed or ruled out at this age as lots of autistic traits are also typical toddler behaviours, so if you have other concerns regarding autism, I would raise it with the health visitor when he is a bit older if you are still concerned xx
Trending in our community
i think it sounds like he’s just more on the shy/sensitive side, which is completely normal. some kids are slow to warm up and prefer space, especially around unfamiliar children. parallel play is common, and it’s okay if he’s not ready to engage closely yet. keep offering low-pressure social experiences, like quiet parks or playdates with just one other child. let him lead it helps build confidence without forcing interaction. the fact that he’s affectionate and playful with family is a great sign. with time, comfort, and gentle exposure, he’ll likely grow into more social play at his pace. ❤️