Hi Chalkey,
Sorrie for responding so late... kindof bz with a new baby in the house recently.
Your questions:
will lining up lego blocks or stacking lego blocks up high a normal action for all kids?
---Well, my son (back then) lined up EVERYTHING in a horizontal straight line, not just lego. It's like it was the only way he knew how to play with those toys.
by not seeking help when there is a need, wouldn't that displayed your son's independence character instead of being autistic?
--- Neuro-typical toddlers will seek help from adults. In the case of my son, he rather try until he gets upset/frustrated then throw a tantrum+cry+whine loudly than to seek help. And he does it repeatedly. He hasn't outgrown this part up till now.
how do you describe as one-part instructions, any example?
--- One part instruction: "Take off your shoes", or "Take your handkerchief"
Two-part instructions: "Take off your shoes and put them on the shelf", or "Take your handkerchief and put it in your bag"
If your girl can engage with others (adult and children) then she is not likely to be autistic. Why do you suspect her to be so then?
There is alot of debates about mercury present in vaccines causing autism, think PDs in Singapore are still don't believe in this. As for the trait running in the family, I really do not know. What I do know is if the first child is autistic, then it increases the chance for the subsequent child to be so too. So I'm actually kindof worried for my No. 2. Well, que sera sera, will take things as they come. I've seen (extremely) difficult children who are neuro-typical, normal kids. Mine who is autistic is not necessarily difficult all the time, since I have the skills and knowledge to handle him.