What is meaningful progress?

Every child develops at their own pace, and for autistic children, progress can look very different from one child to another. Many parents want to make sure their child is making meaningful gains, especially in the early years. Understanding what progress looks like, how to support it, and how to track it can help you make confident decisions and advocate for your child.

Setting goals for your child

Children make the most progress when goals are tailored to their individual needs. These goals might focus on emotional regulation, communication, social skills, or daily living skills like toilet training, and independence with dressing.

To decide what goals are right for your child, it can help to gather information from several sources. This might include medical or diagnostic reports, provider assessments, developmental milestone guides, observations from teachers or therapists, and your own knowledge and intuition as a parent.

Once goals are identified, consider what supports your child may need. Some children do well with smaller, more targeted types of support, while others benefit from group programs, allied health services, or one-on-one therapy at home, at childcare or in a specialised centre. The important thing is that the type, amount, and duration of support matches your child’s goals, needs, and your family’s circumstances.

What does meaningful progress look like?

Meaningful progress is unique to each child and family. It is not just about meeting milestones or completing tasks. It’s about achieving the gains that truly matter in your child’s life.

Progress involves helping your child reach their potential while focusing on what is important for your family in everyday life. Early intervention is especially important, as it can positively influence your child’s developmental trajectory and create opportunities for success in the years ahead.

Evaluating progress

Breaking goals down into small, manageable steps can make it easier to see progress. For example, if toilet training is a goal, you might start with simple steps, like helping your child walk into the bathroom happily or spend a short time there holding a favourite toy.Gradually, your child may approach the toilet, stay in the bathroom for longer, and eventually use the toilet independently.

It can also help to define what success looks like for each goal, with a shared understanding of this across all the important people in your child’s life (e.g., educators, professionals, family members).

Consider these two important questions:

1) In 12 months’ time, what do I want my child to be able to do?

2) What’s the first step towards this goal and how will I know when it’s achieved?

Advocating for the right supports

Parents play a crucial role in making sure their child receives the right supports. Working in a collaborative partnership with your child’s professional team, observing your child’s progress and asking honest questions can help guide future decisions.

By engaging in shared decision-making, you can ensure your child is moving forward and learning new skills for everyday life. If this isn’t happening, it’s OK to speak up and ask for changes to be made to assist your child to learn.

Helping your child make meaningful progress

Every child is unique, and progress looks different for each child and family. By setting clear, individualised goals, breaking them into manageable steps, tracking progress carefully, and advocating for the right supports, you can help your child make meaningful gains. With consistent, targeted support, your child can reach their potential and achieve outcomes that matter most to your family.

Finding the right services for your child can feel confusing and overwhelming. We are here to help you make informed choices.

You can book a FREE, no-obligation telephone consultation with our friendly and informative team. There’s no pressure, just a chance to talk through your child’s needs, understand what meaningful progress might look like, and explore the services that could be the best fit, whether that is with us or elsewhere.