Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Learning a new skill can take time. Whether a child is developing speech, language, communication, motor or everyday functional skills, progress often happens through many small steps rather than one sudden change.
Celebrating small wins can help children and families notice progress that might otherwise be overlooked. Recognising effort, persistence and new skills can also help make therapy feel encouraging and meaningful while keeping the focus on each child’s individual goals.
Why is it important to celebrate small wins?
Recognising small steps can help children notice that their effort and persistence are leading to progress. This can be especially important when a larger therapy goal may take weeks or months to achieve.
Progress might include attempting a new sound, using a new word, completing part of a routine more independently, trying a difficult task again or using a communication strategy in a new situation.
The way adults respond to progress also matters. Rather than focusing only on whether a child gets something “right”, it can be helpful to acknowledge effort, persistence, problem-solving and participation.
For example, you might say:
- “You kept trying even when that was difficult.”
- “I noticed you remembered that strategy.”
- “You did more of that by yourself today.”
- “You tried something new.”
- “You worked really hard on that.”
Research on children’s motivation suggests that feedback focused on the learning process and effort can support persistence more effectively than praise that focuses only on ability or being “good” at something.
The goal is not to praise every small action. Instead, meaningful feedback can help children recognise what they are learning and how their skills are changing over time.
What kinds of progress can families celebrate?
Small wins can look different for every child. What matters is noticing progress that is meaningful for the child’s own goals rather than comparing them with other children.
Families might celebrate when a child:
- attempts a new sound, word or communication strategy
- uses a skill with less prompting than before
- persists with an activity that previously felt difficult
- participates for a little longer
- completes part of a routine more independently
- uses a strategy outside the therapy room
- communicates a need, choice or idea more clearly
- tries again after making a mistake
- copes with a transition more successfully
- joins in with a family, school or community activity in a new way
These changes may seem small on their own, but together they can show meaningful progress over time.
It can also help to notice changes in confidence, participation and independence, not just whether a child has fully achieved a therapy goal.
Tip: Keep a simple note on your phone of new skills or successful moments. Looking back over several weeks can make progress easier to see.
How can I celebrate progress in a helpful way?
Celebrating progress does not need to mean giving a reward every time a child does something well. Often, specific and genuine feedback is more useful because it helps the child understand what they did and why it mattered.
Try to focus your feedback on the action, effort or strategy rather than using only general praise such as “good job”.
For example:
- “You kept trying even though that was tricky.”
- “You remembered to use your words to ask for help.”
- “You finished that step with less help today.”
- “You used your strategy when you got stuck.”
- “You joined in for longer this time.”
You can also celebrate progress by sharing the moment with another family member, adding it to a progress note, choosing a favourite activity together or simply taking time to acknowledge the achievement.
The most important thing is that the recognition feels meaningful to the child and does not turn every activity into a reward-based task.
How can therapists help families recognise progress?
Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists can help families identify the smaller steps that contribute to larger therapy goals.
For example, a child working towards more independent communication may first begin by making a choice, using a gesture, trying a new word or using AAC in a familiar routine. A child working on everyday functional skills may gradually need less prompting, complete more steps independently or manage a routine with greater confidence.
Tracking these smaller changes can help families understand what progress looks like and can also help therapists adjust goals and strategies over time.
At Innerlink Therapy, we work collaboratively with children and families to identify meaningful goals and monitor progress across everyday settings such as home, school and the community.
Why is it important to celebrate small wins in therapy? Small wins can help children and families recognise progress that may otherwise be easy to miss. Larger therapy goals often develop through many smaller steps, so noticing effort, persistence and new skills can make progress easier to see over time.
What counts as a small win? A small win might include trying a new sound, using a new word, completing part of a routine with less help, using a communication strategy in a new setting, persisting with a difficult task or participating for longer than before.
Should I praise my child every time they do something well? Praise does not need to happen after every action. Specific, genuine feedback is often more useful than constant general praise. Try to acknowledge the effort, strategy or progress you noticed.
Is it better to praise effort or achievement? Both can be recognised, but feedback that highlights effort, persistence and useful strategies can help children understand what contributed to their progress rather than focusing only on the final result.
Should I use rewards to celebrate progress? Rewards are not always necessary. Progress can be acknowledged through encouraging feedback, sharing the achievement with family, choosing a favourite activity together or simply taking time to recognise what the child has achieved.
How can I tell if my child is making progress in therapy? Progress may appear in small changes such as needing less prompting, using skills in more settings, communicating more independently or participating more confidently in everyday activities. Your Speech Pathologist or Occupational Therapist can help identify and track these changes.
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