Your child’s unique abilities set them apart from other children, and celebrating every milestone of their growth and development is a way to find joy and feel encouraged in their journey. The youngest years of your child’s life can be challenging. Preschool-aged children are not yet capable of communicating all of their feelings, and children with autism may be more challenged to express their needs.
With the right resources and understanding of your child’s individuality, you can learn to celebrate each milestone, and find joy in every victory (large or small) your child attains.
How Milestones May Differ
Your child may have been diagnosed with autism due to a delay reaching early milestones. Although this isn’t always the case, many children with autism are not able to reach the milestones that a child without autism would otherwise reach. There is a wide variance in when children with autism will reach these milestones, but with proper assistance and care they may be able to achieve them.
Children reach their developmental milestones due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and physiological factors. Your child may hit a milestone sooner or later than another child with a similar diagnosis or skill set.
Creating a Safe Space
For your child to thrive, they need space to play, be creative, and experience the new world around them. Creating a safe space for this to happen is key to helping your child reach their potential.
Your child will learn to communicate through play, hand gestures, body language, voice cues, and positive reinforcement in an environment that is safe, engaging, and individualized for their specific needs.
Tips to Making Milestones Joyful
Many parents find themselves feeling stressed when their child does not reach a milestone “on time.” This can make both the parent and the child feel overwhelmed.
A recommended option is to work on an individualized plan with a board certified clinician, and to celebrate the milestones your child makes as the incredible victories they are. Fostering this type of attitude is possible with the following tips:
Keep a Record
Sometimes we are so focused on the next big milestone that we forget how many achievements our children have already made. Keeping a journal of these successes is a great way to recall how far your child has come, and how successful their journey already is.
Have a Party
Every success is a reason to celebrate. Include family and friends with each victory and allow your child to enjoy their accomplishment. At the same time, you’ll be encouraging future goals with positive reinforcement. It’s a win/win for everyone.
Make It a “Big” Deal
It’s natural to worry over our children and focus more on what they should be doing instead of what they’ve already done.
Instead, try making the achievements a bigger deal than milestones that are still in progress. Each goal your child reaches gives them a stronger ability to communicate, play, and interact with others. It’s worth rewarding, so a trip to an ice cream parlor or their favorite park can be an encouraging way to keep them motivated and help them feel accomplished.
Talk to Other Parents
Parents of children with autism often find themselves feeling alone or ostracized. It’s vital to your own well-being to find support groups where you can talk openly about your children, their challenges, and victories. Having a support system helps you find joy in small moments and eases the discomfort of challenging days.
Brad Zelinger is the founder and CEO of Stride Autism Centers.
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