Tips for managing developmental coordination disorder

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD), formerly known as dyspraxia, is a neurological disorder that develops in childhood. Essentially, it causes difficulty acquiring coordination skills and carrying out sequences of movement.

Children with DCD may appear clumsy, lazy, or inattentive. Despite their best efforts and intentions, they can have trouble with the following:

• Completing everyday tasks like tying their shoes or getting dressed
• Forming letters and producing legible handwriting
• Making or reproducing complex drawings
• Using classroom tools such as scissors or a compass
• Mastering gross motor skill activities or sports, such as cycling, swimming, dancing, or ball sports
• Etc.

If you feel that your child is having difficulty with certain motor skills, you can start by getting in touch with their teacher to see whether they have noticed anything in class. The teacher may suggest that you consult a specialist (a doctor, occupational therapist, neuropsychologist, etc.) to get some definitive answers. In cases where DCD is suspected, it is important to have an assessment done as soon as possible so that the right measures can be taken to minimize the impact of the disorder.
In addition, even though an official diagnosis is not required for your child to receive an individualized education plan (IEP), there are advantages to getting a formal assessment:

• You can rule out other neurological conditions
• You can understand exactly what types of difficulties your child is experiencing
• You can get advice on how to support your child and help them progress
• You can gain the vocabulary to talk about the challenges they face
• Etc.

There are many different ways to help your child become more autonomous in their daily activities. We recommend the following strategies:

• Break down complicated motor sequences into small steps and have your child practise them regularly
• Buy them shoes with Velcro fasteners instead of laces
• Get them pencil grips to make handwriting easier
• Encourage them to do sports that require repetitive movements, such as running, ice skating, or skiing

Whether or not you decide to have your child assessed, it is a good idea to make an appointment with your child’s school team so that you can establish an IEP. You may also want to think about seeing a specialist:

• An occupational therapist
• A speech-language pathologist
• A neuropsychologist
• Etc.

In addition, you can take steps to facilitate your child’s learning at home:

• Give clear instructions
• Keep up a homework routine
• Split tasks into smaller steps
• Help your child practise their motor skills
• Etc.

To learn and progress, every child needs to receive encouragement and experience how it feels to succeed. This is especially true for kids with neurodevelopmental disorders, as they often have to work twice as hard as their peers to achieve the same result. You can teach your child to value effort in a number of ways:

• Let them learn at their own pace
• Build their self-confidence
• Support their goals and interests
• Spark their curiosity
• Explain that there are different ways to learn
• Highlight their progress and praise even the smallest accomplishments
• Etc.