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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

3.5-year-old trips up a lot - dyspraxic?

12 replies

Fatbritishblue · 15/10/2012 22:47

My 3.5-year old son tripped up twice at nursery today, causing himself two bumps on the head. Nursery commented that he seems to trip up a lot, and I agree - doesn't take anything (literally) sometimes to end him flying. Occasionally he has even been just standing, then I look round to see him on the floor; I also watched up get up from sitting on the floor today and he made a right old meal of it.

Nursery suggested he might be dyspraxic, though not very helpfully had no other information on the symptoms. I've since looked it all up and the clumsiness is certainly one; being rubbish at shape-sorters is another, and I have to admit he's still pretty crap at these, tending to hold the shape in the wrong way to get it in the hole. But otherwise he is a chatty, energetic, funny, imaginative 3.5-year-old so it's hard to imagine he might be dyspraxic.

Obviously I'm going to get him checked out by the GP etc but in the meantime I wondered what anyone else thought of the idea that he might be dyspraxic mainly because he falls over a lot and can't do a shape sorter? He also doesn't dress himself yet (but can put on pants and trousers) and is fussy about some food textures; these are also mentioned as symptoms.

Thoughts?

OP posts:

Sagelyhaunting · 15/10/2012 22:56

No advice I'm afraid, but I am watching with interest...
DS1 is 4.10 and is always falling over. I have asked a doctor and a pediatrician, who both say that I shouldn't worry, but I still do!

So, I'm bumping for you :)

piglettsmummy · 15/10/2012 23:00

I can't completely relate I this! Since my little girl started walking at 14months she was always clumsy and falling over a lot struggling a lot etc she's now 25months and still the same she walks in an odd way it's hard to explain but we pressured her doctors (she's got pre-existing problems) into looking into it! We're seeing a neurologist on8th November hopefully get some answers . On the flip side and excluding a few strange behaviour traits she is also an imaginative, happy, sociable little girl! Cant offer any advice but ur not alone! Hope u get some answers soon!

P.s has ur little boy missed r is late with any physical milestones? My little girl can't walk up it down the stairs she can only crawl up them that it. X

because · 15/10/2012 23:07

Get his eyes and ears tested, maybe he needs glasses or has a little glue ear knocking his balance? He is little and growing fast and just might need a bit of help. Play ball games etc, practice shape sorting with him let him use younger age group toys if need be and work up.

My ds is really possibly dispraxic (loads of other issues too no full diagnosis yet) and there are lots of levels but rule out the obvious things first. It is hard to get the drs to pay attention but persevere to get answers. Even needing a haircut and having his fringe in his eyes messes with ds spatial awareness!

piglettsmummy · 15/10/2012 23:14

After reading you comment about being fussy with food I looked dyspraxia up, I have to say my daughter fits quite a few d the physical symptoms! Late with milestones etc!! I am worried now :/

ZuleikaD · 16/10/2012 06:16

Is there any difference when he's got shoes on/off? DD trips up more if she's wearing shoes.

Original poster

Fatbritishblue · 16/10/2012 22:03

Thanks for everyone's comments here. I have secretly been testing him today and was relieved to discover that (unbeknown to me) he can fasten a button; he also managed to catch a ball tonight when his eyes weren't straying back to the television, and in fairness he did just fine with the shape sorter. So maybe I'm being paranoid and too harsh, maybe not. He didn't trip up today either, which nursery staff pointed out meant that he doesn't trip up all the time.

Still, I'm having them checking him for all the symptoms listed on the Dyspraxia Foundation's website and I'm doing a bump diary for a week, then will take a rain check. I don't think there are any issues with his sight or hearing and it's true that he doesn't seem to have as many problems without his shoes on.

Anyway, watch this space - I'll report back if there's any news, either way.

Thanks again for all your support.

Oh, and Piglettsmummy, my son was late with all his milestones - didn't sit until 7.5 months, didn't crawl until 11.5 months, didn't walk until 18 months! Then clung to my leg for next year or so! Anyway, we'll see ?

OP posts:

funkystars123 · 16/10/2012 22:11

I'm dyspraxic and also happy, funny, creative, imaginative and when my children are sleeping well I am energetic!! So not sure why you think those things might mean your son isn't??

I happen to be clumsy and uncordinated but doesn't affect my personality!

ZuleikaD · 17/10/2012 06:19

My DH was tested for dyspraxia when he was little and they said 'no, he's just clumsy...'

Chopstheduck · 17/10/2012 06:41

There is a lot more to dyspraxia than being clumsy, it's not just a physical condition.

So, if his problem is simply tripping up a lot, I think he sounds fine, but I think you should stop trying to guess, and take him to the dr. It could be something else like hypermobile joints which is causing his co-ordination difficulties.

notwoo · 17/10/2012 06:52

I can identify- dd is 3.5 and it's rare that we get through a day without her falling over or bating into something. It's worse when she's tired.

She is nowhere near riding her scooter or balance bike and can barely manage a trike.

She has only just started walking up the stairs rather than crawling.

Ok with shape sorters but terrible at jigsaws.

Will watch with interest

Original poster

Fatbritishblue · 17/10/2012 16:16

Chopstheduck, someone also mentioned hypermobile joints; Funkystars123 I agree that it's no the be-all-and-end-all either way. More soon ?

OP posts:

Nottigermum · 17/10/2012 17:14

The thing with dyspraxia is that some children will tick all the boxes, others will only tick some boxes. But at 3.5, well within the normal range to trip over a lot.

DS2 was tested for dyspraxia as he couldn't hold a pen correctly, or cut with scissors. he also has a speech problem and struggled with eating some textures (he wouldn't eat bread or anything like cake or dohnuts, because of the texture). He would also fall a lot and reached all milestones on the late side.

We later found out that he is hypermobile and hypotonic, not severe but enough to hold him back in some of his development milestone. The speech is developmental verbal dyspraxia. But he can ride a bike without stabilisers and has been doing so since he was 4, and can easily ride a scooter. His feet and knees point slightly inwards so it was recommended that we buy boots for him (just little kicker boots, not the expensive high boots).

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that there could be more than one cause, or just no cause at all to your DS' issues. It's important to keep a good record of what you think might not be right, so that you can raise it with GP or physio if you need to.

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