When we think about growth, it is tempting to picture a straight line. Childhood does not work that way. Development happens in loops, leaps, and pauses because every child has a unique nervous system, learning history, and daily environment. A skill that blooms for one child at age three might emerge for another at age six, and both paths can be healthy.
Progress is what becomes more possible for your child, not how they compare to others.
The most helpful shift is to define progress by function and well-being, not perfection. A child who now tolerates hair washing with less stress, uses a picture to request a snack, or rides the scooter board for 10 extra seconds has expanded real-life participation. Those wins matter because they unlock the next step.
- Start where your child is. Build from current strengths, interests, and regulation, not age charts alone.
- Choose functional goals. Dressing, mealtime peace, play with peers, classroom routines, safer movement, or clearer communication.
- Track micro-changes. Frequency, duration, effort, recovery time, fewer prompts, calmer body, or smoother transitions.
- Watch for generalization. A skill used at home, school, and the playground is progress that sticks.
- Respect energy and sensory needs. Good regulation often precedes new skills. Rest days protect progress.
- Expect spurts and plateaus. Consolidation is learning too, especially after a big leap.
Occupational and speech therapists can help translate big goals into small, doable steps, adapt the environment, and select supports that match your child’s profile. That might include visual schedules, AAC for communication, sensory strategies for regulation, playful motor challenges, or caregiver coaching to keep routines predictable and responsive. The aim is a just-right challenge that feels safe and achievable, so your child wants to try again tomorrow.
One brief note: Autism affects about 1 in 36 children in the United States and presentations vary widely, which is why growth often looks different child to child (CDC).
When progress is defined by participation, comfort, and confidence, you will notice more of it. Celebrate the tiny steps, keep data simple and consistent, and adjust the plan as your child changes. Small today can be big next month.