A thermoplastic composition includes a poly(arylene ether), a hydrogenated block copolymer, a pre-blend of a thermoplastic vulcanizate and a hydrogenated block copolymer, an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, and a hydrocarbon resin. Pre-blending the thermoplastic vulcanizate with a portion of the hydrogenated block copolymer was found to markedly improve the flame resistance and physical properties of the composition compared to those of compositions in which the thermoplastic vulcanizate and hydrogenated block copolymer are separately added to the final compounding process. Addition of hydrocarbon resin further improves the balance of flame retardancy and physical properties.