For parents of children with autism and other developmental differences, finding the right support for your children can feel like a full-time undertaking. We as therapists know that the families we serve invest tremendous amounts of time, energy, and resources into helping their children communicate, connect, learn, participate, and feel successful at home, at school, and in their community. As therapists, we often hear one question from parents who intrinsically wonder: “Is my child making progress?”

The answer isn’t always as linear or straightforward as we might hope or expect. Progress in pediatric therapy—particularly for children with autism and complex communication or learning needs—is rarely a specific destination. Sometimes, the most meaningful changes are the ones that can be easy to overlook. If therapists could pass on words of wisdom related to progress for their children, they would include:

1. Progress Is Bigger Than One Therapy

When a child has multiple areas of need, there is rarely one therapy, program, strategy, or “quick fix” that addresses everything. Children are complex, and their development is interconnected (Communication, Sensory Regulation, Behavior, etc.). Similarly, a child’s sleep, health, home/school routine, and environment, etc. can all largely affect how a child accesses the skills they are learning or presents on a given day. Recognizing and appreciating these factors helps parents and therapists see that the most effective therapy plans often implement a whole-child approach. Rather than focusing exclusively on a specific skill, our goal as therapists is to understand why something is difficult and determine what foundational support will help a child participate more successfully. Therapy is also most powerful when it extends beyond the hour spent in the weekly appointment. When families and therapists work together, strategies can become more practical, collaborative, functional, and intentionally used across environments. Parenting a child with developmental differences is demanding, and we as therapists see that the families we serve deserve acceptance, support, and grace.

2. Progress Can Be Quiet

One of the most important things parents can learn about pediatric therapy is that progress doesn’t always look like one dramatic leap, but instead, may be noticed as small steps. A child who once immediately melted down when something was difficult may now pause and have less of an escalation. A child who once struggled to leave a favorite activity may now transition with less support. A child who once rarely participated in play may now begin bringing people into their play with a preferred toy or activity. These changes may not seem significant, but they can represent major developmental gains.

10 Other Signs Your Child Is Making Progress

1. They’re communicating when they need help.
Instead of becoming overwhelmed when something is difficult, your child may now be asking for help or asking for a break more frequently or effectively.

2. They’re becoming more comfortable with waiting.
Your child may be better tolerating a short delay, waiting for their turn, or handling hearing “no” or “not yet” with less frustration than before.

3. They’re completing more routines.
You may notice your child participating in a routine from beginning to end—getting ready for school, cleaning up toys, completing a familiar activity, or following multiple steps with less support.

4. Transitions are getting easier.
Moving between activities or places can be challenging. Progress might look like needing fewer prompts, recovering more quickly from a problem or unexpected situation, or transitioning with less distress.

5. Their play is becoming more flexible.
Perhaps your child is beginning to explore new toys, accept another person joining their play, use toys in different ways, or move beyond a very familiar play routine.

6. New words, phrases, or sentences are appearing.
Sometimes progress is wonderfully obvious through what we hear: a new word, a longer phrase, a new way to express an idea, or a spontaneous comment you’ve never heard before. These moments indicate that more expanded and independent communication is developing.

7. They’re responding more often to communication.
Your child may be answering more questions, looking toward a speaker, showing more engagement, or noticing when someone is talking to them. Perhaps they are participating in a back-and-forth interaction for longer than before. These moments of improved awareness indicate progress is occurring.

8. They’re appearing less frustrated.
Progress doesn’t necessarily mean that frustration disappears or never occurs. Instead, your child may be appearing more consistently calm or regulated through their days and communication is not appearing as hard as it once was.

9. Other people are noticing differences.
A teacher, babysitter, grandparent, or another caregiver may unexpectedly comment, “They’re doing so much better with that!” or “They’re talking so much more!” These observations can be meaningful because they show that new skills are beginning to carry over into other environments and are becoming more noticeable to other adults in your child’s life.

10. They’re doing more independently that used to require help.
Maybe your child puts on their shoes, communicates what they want, participates in a familiar chore, initiates play, cleans up an activity, or solves a problem without immediately relying on an adult. Independence suggests growth and confidence with skills.

When you’re waiting for a big milestone, it’s easy to miss the small wins happening along the way. These small changes are often the building blocks for bigger ones. Progress is not always about doing something completely new. Sometimes it’s doing something familiar with less support, more flexibility, with greater independence and confidence, or with less frustration.

So, if you’re a parent wondering whether therapy is working, don’t forget to look beyond the biggest milestones. Look for the moments in between, because they are often happening and they are signs of progress worth celebrating!