Coordination Through Play

Your child avoids physical activities and feels clumsy compared to peers

Steps

  1. Focus on non-competitive physical activities: swimming, trampolining, climbing
  2. Play catch with a large, soft ball at close range
  3. Set up simple obstacle courses at home
  4. Celebrate effort and participation, never compare to peers
  5. Build in daily movement that feels fun, not like therapy

What you need

Soft balls, space for movement, patience and encouragement

Why it works

Children with Dyspraxia often avoid physical activities because they've experienced repeated failure and embarrassment compared to peers. Non-competitive activities remove the comparison element, and water-based activities like swimming provide natural body support, making movement feel more achievable and enjoyable.

Age guidance

Start as early as age 3 with simple play-based movement. The key at any age is finding activities that feel fun rather than therapeutic.

Real-world example

One family tried football, rugby, and tennis before discovering that their child loved trampolining. No one was watching, no one was keeping score, and the proprioceptive input was exactly what their body craved. They went from avoiding all physical activity to bouncing for 30 minutes a day.

Troubleshooting

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