top of page
Living with Dyspraxia
AT HOME - Children
At home, children with Dyspraxia may:
Avoid physical activity
Because they often have problems with coordination, children with Dyspraxia tend to avoid sports. Their poor performance therefore results in a reluctance to exercise, causing further mobility and health issues.
Have difficulty with meals
Children with Dyspraxia tend to eat slower and those with sensory issues may be very picky with their food. They may also have difficulty using a knife to cut their food. Those with oral Dyspraxia will also have problems with swallowing certain foods.
Have temper tantrums
Some children become very frustrated with their differences. Because things take longer for them to learn, they often have to concentrate harder. Even sitting up straight and still takes a lot of effort for a Dyspraxic child because Dyspraxia causes weakness in muscles. This can cause very tired children and can show as tantrums and tears at home.
Eat with their hands
They often have difficulty manipulating cutlery, especially chopsticks. They will therefore use their hands to eat, long after other children their age have mastered using cutlery. They may also have difficulty using a fork and spoon at the same time, or they may choose to use a fork over chopsticks.
Following instructions
Children with Dyspraxia often show poor attention span. A parent may need to repeat their instructions several times before a child can perform the task. Parents may also find that their child is easily distracted in the middle of a task.
Show inconsistent symptoms
Each day with a Dyspraxic child may be different. One day, the child may get through the day with minimal assistance. The next day, the same child will seem to need help with everything.
It is important to remember that children with Dyspraxia are not “broken”. They do not need to be “fixed”. When they do things differently to their peers, they are trying to adapt to their surroundings. They need love, patience and understanding from parents and carers to teach them, and ultimately, accept them.
bottom of page