Melanie, 42, appeared on ITV's Daybreak this morning to tie in with World Autism Day, opening up about her little boy's condition to help raise autism awareness.
Speaking with presenters Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones, she said: "Valentino makes me laugh every single day - he is a real character and a joy."
Melanie went on to explain that Valentino has high-functioning autism - but that the little lad still struggles in some social situations.
"There are issues such as judging from other people. Tino looks like a normal child but if he gets overloaded - if in a restaurant there is too much music, or the clatter of cutlery, he will have to get up and hop about.
"He doesn't realise [there might be people nearby]. I do try and explain to people."
Melanie added that she is trying to raise awareness of autistic behaviour so that other parents will be able to more easily identify it.
And, perhaps even more importantly, so that members of the public will recognise the signs and stop judging parents of autistic children.
She said: "How many times do you see a child have a proper tantrum? You have to look at it and think 'that is probably autism'.
"They [people with autism] are very sensitive people. And they are very fun. Tino makes me laugh on a daily basis. He has no filter - he just says it how it is. He is a real character, a real joy. "
The television presenter and model went on to admit that some parents whose children are displaying signs of autism are "in denial" - but that they needn't focus on "the negative side" of autism.
"It's hard to imagine your child won't go down the normal route. But if you leave it until the age of five or six the beahviour will be so engrained.
"You need to spot it and sort it out."
Speaking about her own son, Mel added: "Valentino is in regular school, he has one-on-one support. But he is still an autistic child - he has social issues.
"He doesn't have any friends but he doesn't want any - even though all the people at school love him. He couldn't give a monkeys."
To find out more about autism, why not visit the official website of The National Autistic Society now?