Clumsy or Uncoordinated Youngster? Play Can Help

by Paulene Kamps View Bio

Paulene Kamps

Dr. Paulene Kamps is a Canadian educator, author, parent of four, and child psychologist who also has training in physical education, community rehabilitation, and kinesiology. She is passionate about and loves to present on the topic of DCD; in fact, her goal is to educate all members of society about this seldom-recognized yet credible and common condition.

Few people are aware of a serious and common childhood condition called Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). During toddlerhood, DCD is evidenced as inefficient, clumsy, and uncoordinated motor actions and can quickly impact play, behavior, emotional regulation, and leisure skills.

Research reveals that incoordination can also affect vision, speech, and related communication skills. Additionally, when youngsters experience problems learning and acquiring the motor skills needed for play, social engagements can also be negatively affected. For example, children who cannot run, jump, climb, or engage in ball skills with grace and control, may also bump into, drop, or struggle to play with toys in a controlled manner. Such observable motor difficulties quickly impact peer interactions; in this way, DCD may be mistaken as autism.

"Play has a critical role in childhood development for uncoordinated children."

Although most people focus on the way DCD affects fine and/or gross motor skill performances, incoordination impacts many other areas of functioning; in a child’s early years, this includes motor planning and the performance of activities of daily living (e.g., eating, dressing, toileting, etc.). DCD also affects various academic skills (e.g., penmanship and fine motor control needed in the classroom) as well as visual focus, eye-tracking, and other forms of ocular motor control needed for reading and other scholastic activities. Eventually, many uncoordinated children may be excluded or bullied by others, and start to develop serious mental health concerns.

Play has a critical role in childhood development for uncoordinated children. To enhance and support the acquisition of skilled motor control and dexterity, parents can use these helpful tips while playing:

1. Since DCD may impact ocular-motor control, always position your face or play object(s) within your child’s field of vision to support visual fixation. Then, hold the toy in that location and/or maintain your facial expression for a long period of time while working to obtain joint attention or social gaze. As you then move your face/the toy, watch your child’s eyes to ensure that coordinated visual focus and tracking continues. To support such efforts, any movements must occur very slowly.


2. Use similar slow, exaggerated, and purposeful hand actions when engaged in play. If your child does not respond as expected, re-enact and slow the motions.


3. As infants show interest in toys and begin exploring their environment, purposefully place toys in a physical location that is close and encourages gross and fine motor movements.


4. Since DCD can also impact speech production and articulation, when interacting with your child, always enunciate clearly and encourage proper modelling of words.
5. To encourage gross and fine motor skill development, offer multiple op
   portunities for play with large and small objects.


6. If your child struggles with motor skills, ‘over-teach’ proper manners, cooperative behavior, and other valuable social skills needed to enhance play experiences.


7. If your child displays negative behaviors/emotions during play, observe the situation closely. Try to determine the underlying issue: is it related to the physical/motor component, or the planning, sequencing, organization, or speed of action required? Then, based on your insights, carefully modify and support your child’s play behavior.


8. Obtain a diagnosis that fully explains your child’s difficulties so you can advocate for healthy and successful play experiences thereafter.

• Print
• |
• Share

• Tips to Play:

  • Use slow, purposeful movements with toys in play to ensure that coordinated visual focus and tracking is happening.
  • Purposefully place toys in a physical location that is close to youngsters and encourages gross and fine motor movements.
  • To encourage gross and fine motor skill development, offer multiple opportunities for play with large and small objects.
  • If your child struggles with motor skills, ‘over-teach’ proper manners, cooperative behavior, and other valuable social skills needed to enhance play experiences.
  • If your child displays negative behaviors during play, observe the situation closely, try to determine the underlying issue, and carefully modify and support your child’s play behavior.