Dyspraxia

[Arscal]

My 4 year old DS has been diagnosed with dyspraxia. I've always been aware that he struggles with tasks that other children his age can manage with ease. His speech is particularly delayed too.

The peadiatrition has explained that this is a life long condition and that is the part I am most worried and upset about. How much will his every day life be affected by this? I think I was hoping that he was just developing at a slower pace and that at some point he would catch up.

He gets so frustrated and upset at times. Should I explain to him the reason why he finds things so hard? How much should I encourage independence and how much should I help him?

Can anyone with experience of dyspraxia help?

My ds finds it easier with younger and older children, struggles with his peers.

I would recommend a balance bike if you think he might be able - my ds had one from 3 instead of a bike with stabilisers and I'm sure it's the main reason he was able to get the hang of his pedal bike relatively easily. He could just swing his legs and I think it really helped his coordination. He never managed to pedal a tricycle or any ride on, and was in tears with stabilisers as found it too hard.

His bike is 'his' thing - the physical thing he can enjoy and he can do, and I'm sure it's helped him in other areas.

It is fantastic you have got the diagnosis so young, that will really help, as strategies can be used throughout his childhood.

DD1 was only formally assessed in year 11 age 15, life would have been so much easier to have understood things earlier.

imo Dyspraxia is a reason for finding things harder, it's not an excuse for giving up on key things. You need to find workarounds. So for DD we use checklists a lot. But you do have to accept limitations.

You improve what you practice. My friend's son is keen on sport and has spent ages practicing. As a result, although not A team material, he is passable at sports. Whereas we don't really care and as a result both my DD's are pretty rubbish at throwing and catching (but good at swimming).

It is great that it has been recognised so early for your DS and you are being so supportive. Many children aren't so lucky and go through their young lives labelled as clumsy and lazy. My DS1 is dyspraxic and has just finished his GSCEs will a strong set of results and is now onto A levels. Learning to read was a complete nightmare for him and, as many others have said, riding a bike took years and years. That said he was an excellent swimmer! In terms of school work, I feel as if I have been on his case the whole way through but he finds it hard so any excuse to take his foot off the gas and he will do just that!

Anything with core strength is great for them so maybe you should consider one of the martial arts if gymnastics isn't his bag. He did ITF tae kwondo which covers everything dypraxics need to work on: core strength, concentration, coordination and self-control. When DS1 was younger they were fantastic at pushing him hard enough while making allowances so he continued to progress all the time. Every belt passed was a massive boost for him.

I would also say get him down for touch-typing as soon as reasonably possible (although that will be a few years yet possibly). My DS1 was allowed to type at school once he was up to 70wpm and from then on his grades in subjects where there was a lot of note-taking and essay writing do to improved immeasurably because he wasn't handicapped with trying to write it down at half the speed the other kids in class could go at.

I'm jot diagnosed but I'm 100% sure I'm dyspraxic. All my life I've been called clumsy but it's more than that. I have no hand eye co-ordination and can't dance, play tennis, remember routines or telephone numbers. I have no spatial awareness and frequently walk into walls and into other objects. I spill food and miss my mouth when I drink. I also have a tendency to talk loudly and to repeat myself.

However, I'm organised, can drive although it took me forever to learn and I have a degree and a good job.

Hi OP - not sure if you have you seen the Dyspraxia therapy which is being used in the USA and Europe? They work with brain training through movement therapy to reduce symptoms

It's what we do every day here in the UK and we regularly see some incredible results but... to make sure nobody thinks we are advertising... take a look at an American site www.brainbalancecenters.com which we have no affiliation at all with. They have 130 centres in the US treating thousands of children with Dyspraxia, Dyslexia and ADHD

Really hope you find this information interesting.

All the best

I have so much enjoyed (if that's the right word) reading this thread. My DD1 (7) is dyspraxia - pretty useless at team sports - she isn't too bad at gross motor skills (well catching, not so much) but has no clue about how the parts of the game fit together, where she is in space or in relation to other players etc. But will happily kick a ball with me. At home. Her writing is pretty poor, but did improve a lot last year with good support and input. She is easily frustrated, possibly because at 7 she now realises that things that take her huge amounts of effort come very easily to other kids. It's easy for her to get discouraged and for others to get frustrated with her. Arscal your account of socks is DD to a tee - every single day, we have the same conversation about getting dressed/undressed, the need to put toothbrush in mouth etc. Much worse when tired. And the peer group stuff. It takes its toll on her.

She is very creative, brilliant at riding a bike, knows pretty much everything there is to know about bugs and birds and plants.

I've recently found this new online program that may help children with Dyspraxia/DCD - according to the website it was tested with good effect in 12 primary schools in Western Australia. It uses different Animal actions to practice different physical activities, so maybe just suits 4-8 year olds but might be worth a look? Animal Fun