Extreme clumsiness in my ds!

[LukeSkywalkerBoots]

Hi all, some advice needed.

Ds is 7 and has always been extremely accident prone. It’s like he’s not aware spatially of what’s around him. He just kind of stumbles around the house and at least 6 tines a day he bangs his head/ knee etc on something and cries. He just doesn’t look what he’s doing.

Is it normal for a kid to be this accident prone or might it be indicative of a problem? He also has a stutter in case that matters.

My DD (5) is like that too, it drives me mad!
Interestingly she doesn’t stutter but does have a speech delay.

I did wonder about dyspraxia but it doesn’t fit, she has good fine motor skills and can ride a bike etc.

Has he had his eyesight tested?

I didn't get glasses until I was 7 and was a right clumsy kid before then. My eyesight issues means my spatial judgement is crap.

I never thought about eyesight. DD was tested by the nurse earlier this year. Would that have picked up issues?

Ds has glasses.

I'm 50 and still a bit clumsy despite getting glasses. It might be related to something else but not sure if a diagnosis is any use at my age.

Being a glasses wearer, both my DC's went to opticians since they were really young, certainly by the time they were 3.

Are there any other things going on? Does he find reading difficult? Has his hearing been tested?

Can he ride a bike?

How are his fine and gross motor skills e.g. catching a ball, writing, using scissors?

I would look into dyspraxia / DCD.

My DD1 has dyspraxia (motor skills, organisation, ability to solve problems, some sensitivity to texture & taste). It is a kind of pick and mix condition.

My DD2 has poor motor skills but not the same associated extras. (Though she does have other stuff).

Exercises can help plus accommodations at school. Have a look online and if you think it could be dyspraxia approach the SENCO or your Doctor and ask about an OT referral.

Look at dyspraxia - it’s pretty common for gross motor skills to be very poor even when fine motor skills are good (I’m dyspraxic but can play piano, do fine embroidery etc).

Also try vitamin D supplements, a lot of people are deficient and that can cause coordination problems.

Look up the word proprioception

I agree with dyspraxia - DS1 has it - when he pours a drink, how hard does he have to concentrate? How does he feel about slides/swings at the playpark? How is his writing? DS1 learned to ride his 3 wheeled scooter at the same time as his brother who was 3 years younger!

DS1 was diagnosed via a private Occupational Therapy assessment (his school had flagged his handwriting, and he was having OT with them for that - but there was such a stark difference between him and his little brother that I could tell there was something more going on than trouble with writing)

I have dyspraxia. I can ride a bike.

(So I wouldn't rule it out)

He can ride a bike with stabilisers! He never wanted to ride it at all so we sold it recently.

He’s not too bad at catching a ball.

He likes the slide at the park but won’t go near the swing.

Pouring a drink- he concentrates hard. And always wants me to do it.

Writing- it’s very loopy and learning joined up writing was tricky for him. He doesn’t enjoy writing very much.

I will read up on dyspraxia so thanks for the suggestions.