The Importance of Celebrating Your Child’s Successes

Celebrating your child’s success is an incredible way to nourish and encourage their progress and growth. By praising both in-therapy and everyday successes, no matter how big or small, parents unlock one of the most powerful tools to support and connect with their child in their continued development.

 

Guiding Your Child Through the Highs and Lows

As a parent, there’s nothing more exciting than seeing your child overcome obstacles and take risks—whether they even realize it themselves. Both the milestones and little accomplishments reveal just how far your child has come.

 

Although it can be discouraging to hit bumps in the road during day-to-day interactions and sometimes during in-home therapy sessions; parents are their child’s number one advocates. ABC understands there can sometimes be a feeling of responsibility when there are delays along the way.

 

Just as we strive to learn from events that may arise during our day-to-day activities, during our autism therapy at home, we encourage you to treat your child’s successes as an equal, if not more important, chance to grow.

 

The Benefits of Celebration

Genuine, enthusiastic celebration is one of the most impactful techniques you can use to help your child. Regardless of how you celebrate—and consider ways that are developmentally and age appropriate—there’s bound to be a significant change in not only your child’s approach to life, but you to your own as well.

 

For Your Child: Praise equals progression. When you take the time to cherish achievements, you’re teaching your child about the things you’re proud of and what you’d like them to continue to do. Additionally, it’s another opportunity to show them that people are welcoming and fun to interact with. Not only will it be a special time shared by both of you, you’re also establishing a safe place for them to continue developing the areas that still need work.

 

For You: Simply put, it’s fun to celebrate! The more you do it, the more energy and motivation you’ll have to navigate the rest of your—and your child’s—journey. More than that, working on your ability to be present with your child will result in a lifetime of benefits between you.

 

What Works Best for Your Child

Everyone is different. Your child may not react well to loud or energetic displays of excitement, even if they deserve all of the praise. In that case, consider ways to celebrate them that work on their terms. This can be accomplished a number of ways including:

• Allowing them to finish the conversation they had with you or task they completed, and then telling them how proud you are of what they did.
• Laidback celebration doing something they love to do. (this could be a game, a movie, or even going out for ice cream)
• Showing your excitement nonverbally with hand gestures and facial expressions.

 

Both accomplishments and setbacks are opportunities to learn. Remember to take everything one step at a time and appreciate the accomplishments small, big, and everything in between. Have questions? We’d love to help. While looking for “Autism therapy near me,” we’d be happy to answer any questions you have along the way.