Summer has a special kind of rhythm. The days are longer, routines shift, and there’s more time for play, exploration, and new experiences. For families raising a child with autism, summer offers unique challenges; however, it can be filled with meaningful progress, often found in the quiet, small moments that are easy to miss if we’re not looking for them.
Whether it’s trying a new food for the first time, tolerating a loud event without distress, or speaking a new word unprompted, every achievement, no matter how small it might seem, is a step forward. These moments of progress are worth pausing for, reflecting on, and most of all, celebrating.
Progress doesn’t always arrive in big, dramatic ways. For many children with autism, growth can be slow and subtle. It may look like holding a spoon a little more steadily, playing with another child at a playground, or sleeping through the night for the first time in weeks.
Often, we become so focused on the long-term goals, like increasing verbal communication, mastering social skills, or becoming more independent, that we overlook the importance of these small, everyday victories. But these are the building blocks of meaningful development. They are evidence that our children are learning, adjusting, and growing in ways that matter deeply to their well-being and quality of life.
Take, for example, a child who has always covered their ears or becomes overwhelmed during a fireworks display. If this summer they can sit with you, even just for a few minutes, with noise-reducing headphones and watch a few fireworks in the sky without needing to retreat, that’s a big win. Or consider the child who typically resists trying new foods but manages to take a small bite of watermelon at a picnic. That moment isn’t just about the food. It’s about growth, regulation, and courage.
Every child’s journey is different, and comparing your child’s progress to others only takes away from the unique path they’re on. It’s important to reframe how we define success. When a child with autism does something they couldn’t do yesterday, or something they’ve worked hard to accomplish over time, it should be recognized for the milestone it is.
Small wins are like seeds. They might not bloom overnight, but with time and attention, they grow into something powerful. A moment of tolerance today can become confidence tomorrow. A word spoken today can become a sentence next month. A successful social interaction at the park might be the first of many new friendships.
Celebrating small wins encourages your child, reinforces effort, and helps create a more positive family atmosphere. It shifts the focus from what isn’t happening yet to what is happening, and that shift can be transformative for both the child and the parent.
Summer tends to fly by, often in a whirlwind of heat, outdoor activities, travel plans, or altered schedules. That’s why it can be so helpful to intentionally build in time and space to reflect on your child’s progress.
One simple way to do this is to keep a journal specifically for tracking your child’s growth during the summer. This doesn’t need to be a formal diary or a lengthy narrative. A notebook kept on the kitchen counter or a digital note on your phone is all you need. Every time your child tries something new, shows greater independence, or manages a challenge with more ease than before, jot it down. Over time, you’ll accumulate a beautiful record of growth that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
Another approach is to create a photo log of the summer. When your child has a good moment, such as smiling at a family gathering, splashing happily in a pool, or trying a new sensory activity, snap a photo. These pictures can be printed and placed in a small scrapbook or added to a digital album titled something like “Summer Successes” or “Moments of Progress.” You can even sit down at the end of each week and choose a photo together to add to the collection.
Some families enjoy turning these reflections into a family ritual. You could use a glass jar and slips of paper to create a “celebration jar.” Whenever something positive happens, big or small, write it down and drop it in the jar. At the end of the summer, gather as a family and read each note aloud. This can be a joyful, affirming activity that helps everyone, including siblings of your child with autism, see and appreciate how far your child has come. You could even include the siblings of your child with autism by recognizing their progress and successes, as well. This is a great way to make sure you are giving reinforcement and attention to your other children, as well.
Visual learners might also benefit from tracking progress in a tangible way. You can use stickers, charts, or drawings to mark when your child meets certain goals or tries something new. For some kids, being part of the tracking process helps build their awareness of their own growth and boosts self-esteem.
For many families, summer can feel like a pressure cooker of expectations. Social media can intensify this by filling your feed with images of seemingly perfect vacations and milestone moments. It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing your family’s summer to someone else’s highlight reel.
But here’s the truth: your child’s growth doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. If you can shift your mindset from what should be happening to what is happening, you’ll find that there’s a lot to celebrate.
This doesn’t mean ignoring challenges. Parenting a child with autism can be exhausting, especially in the summer when routines are less predictable. But within those challenges, there are also opportunities, times when your child surprises you, when they demonstrate resilience, and when they show you in their own way that they are growing and adapting.
Being present in those moments and truly noticing them is a powerful gift. The more you acknowledge and celebrate progress, the more attuned you become to it. It becomes easier to recognize your child’s strengths, appreciate their efforts, and feel pride in the daily work you’re both doing.
Summer doesn’t need to be extraordinary to be meaningful. It just needs to be real, present, and intentional. If your child tried something new today, that’s a win. If they tolerated a challenge with more ease than last time, that’s a win. If they said a new word, made a new friend, or simply had a good day, those are wins worth celebrating.
So slow down. Take the photo. Write the journal entry. Drop a slip of paper in the jar. Reflect, acknowledge, and cheer, because every step forward, no matter how small, is a sign of growth.
And those small steps add up over time. A combination of small steps leads to even greater progress.
