For many children, learning to tie their shoelaces, hold a pencil correctly, or catch a ball comes naturally. But for others, these everyday tasks can feel confusing and frustrating. If your child struggles with coordination, planning movements, or completing routine activities, they may be experiencing a condition known as dyspraxia.

Also referred to as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), dyspraxia is more than just clumsiness. It affects how the brain processes information and plans physical movements, making daily life harder for children. Thankfully, with early intervention and targeted therapy, children with dyspraxia can improve their skills and confidence.

What Is Dyspraxia?

Understanding the Condition

Dyspraxia is a neurological condition that impacts a child’s ability to plan and execute physical movements. It’s not due to muscle weakness or intelligence but rather how the brain coordinates body movements.

Children with dyspraxia may struggle with:

• Fine motor skills (e.g., handwriting, using utensils)

• Gross motor skills (e.g., riding a bike, jumping, catching a ball)

• Balance and coordination

• Daily routines like dressing or brushing teeth

While every child with dyspraxia is different, the common thread is difficulty with movement planning and execution, which can impact learning, play, and social interactions.

Recognising the Signs Early

What to Look For

Dyspraxia often becomes noticeable in early childhood but can sometimes be mistaken for general developmental delay. Signs to watch for include:

• Delayed milestones (like crawling or walking)

• Poor posture or fatigue during physical tasks

• Avoidance of sports or group activities

• Difficulty with sequencing steps in a task

• Trouble organising schoolwork or managing personal items

If your child regularly struggles with motor-based activities compared to peers, it’s worth discussing your concerns with a healthcare professional.

How Targeted Therapy Helps

Supporting Motor Skill Development

Children with dyspraxia benefit greatly from structured, targeted therapy that addresses their unique challenges. Occupational therapists play a key role in helping children build the foundational motor and coordination skills they need for daily life.

Improving Fine and Gross Motor Skills

Therapists use fun, engaging exercises tailored to the child’s age and interests to improve:

• Fine motor skills: activities like drawing, buttoning shirts, or cutting with scissors

• Gross motor skills: games involving jumping, crawling, and balancing

• Hand-eye coordination: tasks like ball catching or stacking blocks

These exercises are designed to be repetitive and skill-building, helping the child gain control and confidence over time.

Encouraging Independence in Daily Life

Many children with dyspraxia find everyday self-care tasks particularly frustrating. Therapy can break down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps and offer adaptive tools when needed.

Building Routine Skills

Therapists often focus on helping children become more independent with tasks such as:

• Getting dressed

• Packing school bags

• Using cutlery and cups

• Managing hygiene tasks like brushing hair or teeth

Mastering these activities can significantly improve a child’s self-esteem and reduce stress for both children and parents.

Supporting Emotional and Social Development

Struggling with daily tasks can take a toll on a child’s mental health and self-confidence. Some children with dyspraxia may withdraw from social situations or become frustrated with schoolwork.

Building Emotional Resilience

Therapists also focus on:

• Helping children understand and accept their challenges

• Teaching coping strategies and positive self-talk

• Building perseverance through achievable goals

In some cases, therapy may include social skills training to help children participate more confidently in group activities, games, and classroom tasks.

The Importance of Early Intervention

Why Sooner is Better

Like many developmental conditions, early diagnosis and support for dyspraxia can significantly improve long-term outcomes. The earlier therapy is introduced, the more likely a child is to develop strong compensatory strategies and build skills that promote independence.

Early support also helps prevent secondary issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem, and academic difficulties, which are common in children with undiagnosed dyspraxia.

Working Together: Family, School, and Therapy

A Team Approach

Therapy is most effective when supported by collaboration between therapists, parents, and educators. Occupational therapists often provide guidance to schools and families on how to adapt activities or environments to better support the child.

Simple Adjustments That Help

• Using visual schedules and checklists

• Allowing extra time for tasks

• Breaking instructions into clear, simple steps

• Offering praise and encouragement for effort

These changes, when consistently applied, can make a world of difference in a child’s daily routine.

Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive—regardless of the challenges they face. Dyspraxia, a condition that affects motor coordination and planning, can make everyday tasks like dressing, writing, or even catching a ball feel frustrating or overwhelming. But with the right support, understanding, and early intervention, these obstacles don’t have to define a child’s future.

Targeted therapies, such as occupational or physiotherapy, play a vital role in helping children develop coordination, strength, and confidence in their movements. Just as importantly, emotional support and encouragement from parents, teachers, and therapists can empower children to believe in their abilities and celebrate each small win.

With patience, guidance, and consistent practice, children with dyspraxia can learn to navigate their world more easily—gaining independence, building resilience, and discovering the joy of mastering new skills, one small step at a time.