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Primary education

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co ordination problems

22 replies

loosinas · 02/11/2011 20:32

the teacher tonight at parents meeting told me my son has really poor coordination. his fine motor control is poor and he has major problems wit his writing but i thought his gross motor was ok. what can i do to improve his coordination am worried:( thanks

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countydurhamlass · 02/11/2011 20:45

my ds has fine motor and gross motor skill delays. perhaps a chat with your GP about your concerns and whether a referral to occupational therapy would be appropriate. (not sure if schools can ask)

pre-hand writing skills sheets might help, a tilted desk also helps with writing (This could be done by using a lever arch file to rest on rather than the flat desk),

things like playing with playdoh - rolling in between thumbs and fingers, squeezing a spray water bottle, ringing out a wet flannel, throwing and catching a small ball can help. these are just things off the top of my head but i will have a look tomorrow at what other things our OT have recommended in the past, i also have some worksheets somewhere i could send you if you want

loosinas · 02/11/2011 20:52

thanks so much guys youre so kind its all great :)

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mrz · 02/11/2011 21:00

I'm using this programme at the moment

The programme consists of:
? Motor skills activities
? Upper limb activities
? Hand activities
Equipment needed:
? Mini trampoline
? Space hopper
? Bench
? Therapy ball
? Punch bag or cushion
? Gym mats
? Small ball
? Playdough
? Paper/wax crayons and felt pens
The activities are graded into levels 1,2 and 3 for the development of the child. When the child has achieved each level, please tick the appropriate box to indicate progress. (children may be working at different levels for different activities as they master skills at different stages) Success is measured by the child?s ability to sustain the movement for 2 minutes consistently to a good standard.
The programme should be implemented for 10/15 minutes, if possible daily (but 2 or 3 times in school would be more realistic). All activities are for 2-3 minutes.

Main programme
Trampoline
Use a mini trampoline
Sit and bounce
? Sit cross legged and use flat hands to lift bottom, keeping back and head upright.
Jumping on spot
? Keeping feet together and use arms to lift body upwards with a circular action. Stay on the spot
Jumping Jack action
? Open and close legs keeping contact with the trampoline when landing and bringing arms together. If the child does not lose the movement pattern attempt also to lift arms to shoulder height when legs are open, and down to the side when legs come together (star jumps).
Stride jumps
? Move feet forwards and backwards. If child can swing arms with leg action.
Space hopper
Use large space hopper for one or two minutes
? Move up and down the room counting number of laps
? Move up and down the room moving coloured bean bags to coloured targets
Bench activities
? Step up onto the bench, feet together, step down. Ensure the child consistently leads with their dominant foot (eg right leg first up right leg first down) if struggling to remember tie a ribbon around lead leg.
? Repeat but hold a small weight in hands and move arms and legs together when stepping
Therapy ball
? Bounce the therapy ball both hands together fast for 1 minute increasing to 2 minutes
? Bounce ball with right then left hand across the body to twist the trunk for 1 minute

Upper limb activities
Level1
Pinching
Punching into a cushion with alternative hands in fist position for 1 minute
Ensure right then left are used alternately with good wrist position.
Shoulder girdle spirals
Hold arms out to the side. Begin to circle arms creating a large circle, maintain the same size circle at all times trying not to increase /decrease . 10 forward and 10 backwards ? increase to 15 then 20.

Wall push ups
Stand arms length from the wall. Place your hands on the wall in front of you try to get your nose to touch the wall without moving your feet. 10 times increasing to 15 then 20.
Level 2
Shoulder spirals as before but with small weights
Half body press ups
Similar to normal press ups but not lifting lower body. Ensure elbows don?t lock and have a slight bend. 5 times increase to 10 then 15.
Level 3
Increase intensity and number of repeats

Hand Activities
Level 1
Ball squeeze
Hold a soft ball in the palm of the writing hand. Cup fingers and thumb securely around and squeeze (thumb touching ring finger if possible) hold grip for a count of 15 seconds build up to 30, 45 and 1 minute.
Creepy crawlies
Use tissue then normal paper strips
Place forearm of dominant hand on a table using the fingers of the dominant hand scrunch paper into the hand (hand cupped over the paper feeding it into cupped hand) rotate the forearm when crunching paper and use thumb to make as small as possible. Repeat 2, 3 then 5 times.

loosinas · 03/11/2011 08:24

thanks so much MRZ will definitely do all i can of that programme without having a trampoline!!
what do others think.. should i be looking for a referral to an OT or other professional ?

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IndigoBell · 03/11/2011 13:37

Ask for a referral to an OT as well as doing MRZs list - if you think his co-ordination is really poor.

But he probably won't get to see an OT (unless his co-ordination is extremely worrying) - and if he does it'll probably take months to see one.

So, there's no harm in asking your GP. But don't stress about whether or not you actually get an appt.

If, as he gets older, and you do stuff off MRZs list, and you get more concerned not less concerned - then you can see an OT privately. (Which will cost you a fortune)

loosinas · 03/11/2011 18:29

mrz why does it say in your post that you need paper and wax crayons for the activities please ?

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mrz · 03/11/2011 18:39

sorry I missed off the last bit
lying on stomach with forearm of dominant hand flat on the floor colour a "splat" (random shape) light pressure /heavy/ fast/slow ...

Check with your GP and with the school. I am in the very fortunate position that I can directly refer children to a specialist OT service which provides (free) many of the expensive treatments that Indigo has had to pay for in her area.

loosinas · 03/11/2011 18:51

oh wow can we move to your area ?? lol
do you think the gp would see cause for a referral for trouble with coordination and poor fine motorskills ?

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DebbieSolloway · 03/11/2011 19:21

Our son also has fine motor problems.

Discovered that retained reflexes lead to poor motor development and we began a INPP program for him.

Lots of information on retained reflexes here, would recommend to look at this seriously. We went the regular OT route, did not help much.

loosinas · 03/11/2011 19:38

sorry whats an INPP program ?

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mrz · 03/11/2011 19:42

The Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology

loosinas · 03/11/2011 19:45

and what is it that they do ?

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LittleDragon · 03/11/2011 19:52

Throughout school My mum was told I had poor coordination. I have finally, at the age of 25, been given a dx of dyspraxia and was told that the best thing I could do was practice the skills I found difficult. I do hand-writing practice everyday. I am doing 30 Christmas cards every night but you could put this at the level that would push your ds without making him resent it, maybe 5 cards a night. I used to play tiddly-winks and that seemed to help quite a lot as well. I hated it if it felt like I was being forced whereas if it was made into a game it didn't matter.

mrz · 03/11/2011 20:06

It's based on the work of Sally Goddard Blythe looking at neuro motor development basically some children miss out important steps in their physical development so retain primitive reflexes

loosinas · 03/11/2011 20:07

and what do their programs involve? does anyone have any experience of them ?

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Joyn · 04/11/2011 00:19

Hi, just wanted to give you bit of light at the end of the tunnel perspective. Ds had delayed fine motor skills at start of foundation (partly down to poor eye sight, discovered when 5 - have you checked for this?). Now yr3 has 'nicest hand writing in the class' according to class teacher & was 3b in writing at end of yr2 (level hoped for at end of yr4). Things we were recommended were, shaving foam, stacking cups & plastercine (rather than playdoh). Oh btw he still detests drawing & cutting & crafts but is no longer behind.

DebbieSolloway · 04/11/2011 05:46

Many here have had good results from the program. Search on Retained Reflex here and there is tons to read.

Babies are born with certain reflexes go away by the time they are 1. Sometimes they dont can cause difficulties lwhich can lead to dyslexia, ppor handwriting, poor swimming, inability to ride a bike etc.

To get started visit www.inpp.org.uk

IndigoBell · 04/11/2011 06:09

I'm going to echo Debbie that if you search threads about retained reflexes in SN children you will find a lot of positive stories.

It has hugely helped my DS. And at his last OT check up his gross and fine motor skills were in the 25th percentile. So a massive improvement.

He is in year 6 and finally his handwriting is improving.

So I highly recommend retained reflex therapy if your child has dyspraxia (or asd/ ADHD / dyslexia ).

However, you don't know if your child does have dyspraxia ( which he might. Trouble with coordination and problems with fine motor skills describes dyspraxia ) or if his problems are less serious and a few weeks of mrzs exercises would be enough.

So don't panic yet.

  1. Do mrzs exercises daily.
  2. Discuss with the teacher how bad she thinks the problem is.
  3. If she ( or you) think the problems are significant research dyspraxia.
  4. If you think he might have dyspraxia ask your GP for a referral to a paed or OT (occupational therapist)
  1. Then, or in a few months time, if you still think his problems are significant, look into retained reflex therapy

If you PM me I can recommend places that do it.

So, I highly recommend INPP / RRT - but only if your child has major or significant problems as opposed to minor difficulties.

loosinas · 04/11/2011 08:52

thanks so much guys. i will start the exercises straight away, although i dont have a trampoline so i dont know if i will be able to be thorough enough ?
the teacher seemed to think the problem will rectify itself but looking at the INPP site my son ticks a lot of the boxes:( ugh i feel totally overwhelmed

OP posts:
IndigoBell · 04/11/2011 09:22

PM'd you

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