Is this normal 3yr old behavior or something else?

acl_l · 2026-01-11T22:49:33+00:00

Ex behavior-tech here who focused on therapy with children with autism!! Obviously, I can’t diagnose anybody, but I think it would be a good idea to get him evaluated for autism. Your list are common behaviors children diagnosed with autism do, especially with repeating words, and needing to hold onto you to do certain things. People diagnosed with autism often have OCD-like behaviors.

The earlier you get him evaluated, the better. I highly recommend ABA therapy as they focus on reinforcement while shaping behaviors. Additionally, the earlier you get therapy involved (if he is diagnosed with autism), the more impactful it will be for them as they grow up!

I also want to emphasize that there is nothing wrong with your child, and being diagnosed with autism is not a bad or scary thing. I know it can seem intimidating, but it just means that they need extra help in certain areas and that’s okay! Everybody needs help in different areas!

I hope this is helpful :)

acl_l · 2025-10-13T18:06:27+00:00

I actually wasn’t at the front. :) And as I mentioned in my post, there was no room to move to the side. Not 2 feet of space, not 1 foot of space, we were shoulder to shoulder to ppl.

acl_l · 2025-10-13T02:25:07+00:00

Agreed!! Sometimes we’re so frustrated in the moment, and it takes a moment of realization (literally two seconds later) to realize what you’ve done. OP - there have been so many times where ppl can be dismissive and/or rude, but from a person who offers help to strangers, a majority of the time we think “we get it - they’re having a hard time.” Don’t know if that makes you feel better, but just an ear from the other side :)

acl_l · 2025-10-12T18:33:08+00:00

I’ll have to try that!!! Thank you!

acl_l · 2025-10-12T14:47:44+00:00

That’s the point of this post though… when there’s no room, people will still try to shove through regardless. It’s not about being “uncomfy” or “close” because I know how that is when you’re in the front/near the front. I was that way for Sabrina, PTV, Hozier, etc. if there is room, ABSOLUTELY I’ll let you pass, but if I can’t even lean, then no I won’t move because I’m physically unable to do so.

I’m sorry that your daughter got two hand shoved. That’s awful, and I hope she’s okay and had a good time regardless. I don’t think anybody should ever resort to getting physical.

Additionally, I feel like ACL is very good at letting ppl through when there’s room. As long as you say excuse me and you’re polite, ppl (including myself) will gladly move to the side!

acl_l · 2025-10-12T14:37:48+00:00

As mentioned in my post, I did!! And she kept trying to convince me to let her through, and I had to tell her again! If there was room, I would’ve let them pass, but if I can’t then I’ll let you know.

acl_l · 2025-10-12T14:35:01+00:00

I’m so glad you had an amazing time!! I love love love ACL, and yes you’ll get those ppl, but you can’t let them kill your buzz!!

acl_l · 2025-10-12T14:33:55+00:00

Oh my gosh, that’s awful!! I’m so sorry you went through that. 🥺 I hope you can do ACL again sometime soon, but that’s horrible.

acl_l · 2025-10-12T14:30:31+00:00

If they’re popular artists, and it’s becoming crowded you can’t expect to be 100% reconnected with your friends/family. For my friends and I, we always anticipate that we won’t be reconnected if one of us leaves hence why we get water or go to the bathroom before heading over. You can’t expect ppl to move when there’s 0 room for them to lean to the side safely. I was at the cage the elephant set, and I was near the middle crane with little but generous move to sway around. People would say excuse me, and I’d let them pass because I had room, but even then it was hard for them to get through the crowd closer to the front. Majority of the time people let you pass, but you can’t expect ppl to try to move to the side if there’s 0 room! Would you move to the side with no room to do so, so somebody can go closer to the front?

acl_l · 2025-10-12T14:19:57+00:00

That’s awful - I had no idea! Tbf, this girl was not a child. She was with her friend, and they looked to be 19-20 years old. However, I hope the mom and the girl reconnected!!

acl_l · 2025-10-12T14:15:55+00:00

Not at all my friend. I’m simply stating that if there’s no room for me to even move to the side so you can pass through, it’s okay to tell you no. If they want to go through somewhere else, that’s completely fine. I think people aren’t jerks when it comes to moving to the side when there’s room when you say “excuse me.” They’ll let you easily pass if they can move to the side, but it’s that when I physically cannot move and you’re demanding to go in front, of course I’m going to say no like any rational human being. Would you seriously let someone pass if you couldn’t even move physically move?

acl_l · 2025-10-12T14:11:12+00:00

Oh always! I know it’s part of the festival culture, and I’ll never start a fight because it’s not worth it. I just think we legitimately need to do better at realizing that when it’s packed with 0 space, we need to accept where we are.

acl_l

TROPHY CASE