Your child works hard at school, therapy, and at home. When they attend their ABA therapy sessions, you may ask your child’s team how they’re progressing and how you can support them at home. However, tracking your child’s progress at home can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for.

Here are a few tips for tracking progress in children with autism so that you can best support your child.

Documentation Is Key

As a parent or caregiver, it’s important that you’re involved in your child’s academics and ABA therapy sessions. Asking their teachers and therapy providers for their reports on your child’s progress will help you get insight and see areas of progression and opportunities. Keeping a file of their reports throughout the years will help you see their growth.

Keep a Checklist of Development Goals

Another great tip for tracking progress in children with autism is to create a goal checklist. There are many checklists available for parents to monitor development. Along with your child’s individualized goals, you can also compare their development to the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist or the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers.

Journal Your Child’s Progress

Keeping a journal of your child’s progress will help you get more insight into their development and areas of opportunity. Writing down your observations or creating video diaries will make it easier to analyze their patterns. Take some time every day to write about their day and include everything from their daily activities to the food and drinks they consumed.

Keep a Collection of Your Child’s Work

We look forward to our children returning home with their schoolwork and artwork. This a chance for them to brag about their creativity and intelligence, and it’s a great opportunity for you to analyze their progress. Through their work, you can see which subjects they’re strong in and which ones they may need extra help in. Create goals for your child and collaborate with their educators to know how you can support them at home.

At HANDS Center, we strive to give our learners the best opportunity to grow and develop their minds. Parents and caregivers should have the tools to continue this growth at home and in other environments. We offer ABA therapy training for parents and caregivers to give you insight into the best practices and how to teach your child newer skills. Contact us today if you’re interested in learning how our program can help you and your family.