Raising a child who receives ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy is a journey filled with both challenges and meaningful victories. As a caregiver, you are your child’s biggest advocate, teacher, and cheerleader. You see their daily triumphs and struggles in ways no one else does. But when BCBAs and therapists talk about “tracking progress,” it can sometimes feel overwhelming. You may wonder: Do I need to track every little thing? What if I miss something? How will I know what counts as progress?
Tracking your child’s progress at home doesn’t need to be complicated! With a few simple strategies, you can capture valuable insights without adding stress to your already full schedule. In fact, tracking can become a powerful way to notice the little steps forward - those “in-between” moments that show your child is growing and learning new skills.
In this blog post, we will walk you through easy and practical ways to track progress at home, step by step. Whether you prefer jotting quick notes, using apps, or celebrating milestones with stickers, you’ll find options that fit your family’s lifestyle. It’s important to remember that small steps add up to big change, and your involvement is a vital part of your child’s success!
Step 1: Start Small and Focus on Just One or Two Skills
When it comes to tracking, sometimes less is more. Instead of trying to monitor everything at once, pick one or two skills or goals your child is currently working on in therapy. This makes progress easier to notice and prevents you from feeling overwhelmed.
Some examples of skills/goals you might focus on with your child:
- Using words, signs, or gestures to ask for something
- Following a one-step direction (“Come here,” “Sit down”)
- Waiting for a short time before they can watch a show or eat dinner
- Trying a bite of a new food
- Brushing teeth with assistance
- Playing alongside or sharing with a sibling
Caregiver tip: Ask your child’s BCBA and therapists which goals would be most helpful for you to track at home. They can suggest priorities that connect to your daily routines.
Step 2: Choose a Tracking Method That Fits Your Lifestyle
There is no “right” way to track progress - just the way that works best for your family. Some caregivers enjoy writing notes, while others prefer quick checklists or visual reminders.
Here are a few tracking options to consider:
Journals or Notebooks: Keep a small notebook in a place you will see it often (like the kitchen counter). At the end of the day, jot down a sentence or two about what you noticed. For example: “Used words to ask for milk twice today.” or “Brushed teeth with less help, I only had to do it for them towards the end.”
Checklists: If you like structure, create a short checklist of the skills you are tracking. Each time you see your child use the skill, make a checkmark. This works especially well if you are tracking things that happen frequently, like following directions or trying new foods.
Visual Charts: Kids often love this method too! You can create a simple chart with boxes to color in or stickers to place. For example, each time your child practices a skill, they can earn a star sticker. This makes progress more concrete for both you and your child.
Apps or Phone Notes: If you are on the go, using your phone may be the easiest or most convenient option. You can keep a running note in your phone or use an app designed for behavior tracking. Even recording a quick voice memo like, “Asked for water with words three times today” counts as progress.
Photos and Videos: Sometimes the best way to track progress is to capture it in action. Short clips or photos can show your child’s growth over time. These are especially helpful to share with the BCBA during caregiver support sessions.
Caregiver tip: Pick the method you know you will actually use. A simple tally on your fridge is better than a complicated system you do not have time to keep up with.
Step 3: Build Tracking Into Your Daily or Weekly Routine
The key to success is consistency, not perfection! You do not need to write a full report every night or keep records every hour. Instead, carve out a tiny pocket of time that fits naturally into your day. Over time, these small moments will add up to a meaningful record of your child’s growth.
Here are some ideas:
- Spend two minutes jotting a note before bedtime
- Do a weekly recap on Sunday evenings, reflecting on the week’s progress
- Pair tracking with something you already do like writing while your child has snack time, or checking off a chart during bedtime routine
Step 4: Notice and Celebrate Small Wins
Progress is not always a giant leap forward. More often, it looks like little shifts such as using fewer prompts, responding more quickly to instructions, or trying something new for a few seconds longer than before.
Some examples of small wins:
- Yesterday your child needed three reminders to put on shoes, but today they needed just one
- Last week your child played near their sibling for two minutes, this week it’s five minutes.
- You may not finish brushing their teeth yet, but they willingly picked up the toothbrush today.
These moments matter! Every step is part of a bigger journey, and celebrating them keeps both you and your child motivated. Celebrations can be as simple as:
- Giving a sticker or high five
- Doing a “happy dance” together
- Sharing a big smile and saying, “Wow, you did it!”
- Marking the milestone on a chart with a fun color
Caregiver tip: Don’t underestimate the power of celebrating—even small acknowledgments make progress feel real.
Step 5: Share Updates With Your Therapy Team
Your observations are incredibly valuable to your child’s ABA therapy team. You see your child in their natural environment, where the many skills they are learning in therapy are put to the test. By sharing what you track at home, you give both BCBAs and therapists a biggerpicture of progress and challenges that can continue to improve their therapy outcomes both in sessions and at home
Ways to share your updates:
- Bring your notebook, chart, or checklist to sessions.
- Email short notes or photos to your child’s BCBA.
- Share videos during caregiver meetings or check-ins.
This communication helps your therapy team:
- Adjust goals based on real-life progress
- Identify patterns you might not notice
- Suggest new strategies to support you at home
Managing Overwhelming Feelings: Give Yourself Grace
It’s normal to feel like tracking progress might add “one more thing” to your already busy plate. Some days you may forget. Some weeks may feel harder than others. That’s okay. Progress tracking is not about perfection, about creating a general picture of growth over time.
If you miss a day (or even a week), do not give up. Just pick back up where you left off. The goal is consistency over the long run, not flawless record-keeping.
Why Your Role Matters So Much
Therapists work with your child a few hours each week, but you see them every day. The
insights you provide fill in the gaps and create a stronger, more personalized plan. By tracking and sharing progress, you are:
- Helping the therapy team see how skills generalize (i.e., start occuring) at home
- Building a stronger partnership between home and therapy
- Giving your child more opportunities for learning and success
Most importantly, you are reminding yourself of how much your child is capable of achieving!
A Final Word of Encouragement
Raising a child with unique needs takes patience, love, and resilience. Tracking progress at home is one simple, empowering way to support your child and it does not have to be overwhelming. Whether it’s a checkmark on a chart, a quick video clip, or a single sentence in a notebook, every effort you make helps your child grow.
Remember to keep these things in mind:
- Start small and keep it simple.
- Celebrate even the tiniest steps.
- Share your observations with your therapy team.
Over time, you will see how these small efforts add up to big changes. And along the way, you will create a record of progress that shows just how much your child has grown.
You are not alone in this journey. Your therapy team is here to celebrate every step with you and to remind you that each win, no matter how small, is worth noticing. Together, you and your child are building a path toward growth, independence, and joy!
Author: Noelle Amador, Training and Outcomes Support Specialist at Mindcolor Autism