Sensory: Understanding Dyspraxia

These instructions for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) patients provide information about dyspraxia and activities to improve movement and coordination.

Important information about dyspraxia:

• Praxis is the ability to create, plan and complete a motor action, such as putting on a shirt or using a spoon to eat. Difficulties with praxis are often referred to as dyspraxia. Dyspraxia is a motor disorder that affects the coordination of large and small movements during daily activities.

• A child with dyspraxia has difficulty mastering activities that are typically achieved rather easily, such as taking off a jacket, solving a puzzle, or opening a jar. They may be able to learn a skill with a lot of practice, but then may not be able to apply the skill to another task.

• Your child may be slow in learning to print. Their handwriting may be difficult to read and the work may be messy.

• They may take longer to learn to dress and tie their shoes.

• Playing with building blocks or toys that require turning and twisting small objects, such as puzzles, may be difficult. Your child may become frustrated and destructive during such play.

• A child with dyspraxia may have poor eye muscle control, so reading, copying, and eye-hand coordination activities may be hard for them.

• Holding very still in one position is not easy for a child with dyspraxia. Games like Simon says, or green light/red light are difficult to play.

• Your child may have difficulty understanding touch and therefore may be very sensitive to it.

Instructions for caregivers:

• Break large tasks down into small parts. Provide step-by-step instructions.

• Encourage the use of large muscles. Have your child write on the chalkboard or help color a bulletin board display.

• Help your child do activities that provide deep pressure to the body, such as jumping rope, wheelbarrow walking, or bear hugs.

• Do activities with your child that have several steps that must be done in a certain order, such as dot-to-dots, obstacle courses, crafts, and constructive building.

• Involve your child in activities that require using both sides of the body together such as jumping jacks and stringing beads.

• Do things that stimulate your child's skin or sense of touch. Play with dough or finger paint. Massage your child's skin with lotion.

Reviewed on December 18, 2022, by Jennifer Strebel, OTR/L