Yay! My nephew is turning out to be a nerd!

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He is not going to have full-blown Aspergers because his developmental milestones have been right on the money and he can engage in normal interactive play, but he lines up his toys and sometimes has meltdowns over it. He is also massively fixated on dinosaurs to a point it is actually cute, not really to a point of abnormal fixation. Like, he can enjoy things not related to his fixation. That is sort of relieving because I feel like I am mentally painting myself into a corner when my fixations get out of hand. I wouldn't wish it on family.

Does anyone else find it amusing and oddly gratifying to see more empowering manifestations of asd-like traits in younger relatives? Does it make you feel better to see similar traits helping someone you love have a richer, fuller life?

By definition, people with Asperger's reach their developmental milestones right on time. I don't believe "inappropriate play" is part of the diagnosis either--unlike Autistic Disorder.

If they didn't reach them "normally," according to DSM IV--especially as regards speech--they wouldn't be diagnosed with Asperger's.

I'm certainly glad that the kid has somebody who has experienced similar things to him, and could offer advice and solace based upon that experience.