“He’s so clumsy — always bumping into things and dropping everything.” “She can’t catch a ball to save her life.” “Writing is agony for him — his hand gets tired after two sentences.”
These are often dismissed as clumsiness or laziness. But for some children, movement difficulties are a recognised neurodevelopmental condition that deserves proper understanding and support.
What Is Developmental Coordination Disorder?
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) — sometimes called dyspraxia — is a neurodevelopmental condition in which a child’s motor coordination is significantly below what is expected for their age. It affects 5–6% of school-age children and is more common in boys.
DCD is not caused by a neurological disease, intellectual disability, or a visual impairment. It is a specific difficulty with motor coordination and planning.
What Are the Signs?
In early childhood:
- Late to reach motor milestones (sitting, walking, running)
- Difficulty learning to ride a bike or swim
- Clumsiness — bumping into things, dropping objects
- Difficulty with buttons, zips, shoelaces
- Messy eating
In school-age children:
- Poor handwriting — slow, effortful, illegible
- Difficulty with drawing, colouring, cutting
- Struggles with sports and physical education
- Avoids activities requiring coordination
- Tires quickly with physical tasks
- Difficulty organising movements in sequence
Secondary effects: Children with DCD often develop low self-esteem, avoid physical activities, and can become socially isolated. They are at higher risk of anxiety and depression if not supported.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Diagnosis involves assessment by an occupational therapist, paediatrician, or psychologist using standardised motor assessments such as the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2).
What Support Helps?
Occupational Therapy is the primary intervention for DCD.
Task-oriented approaches: Practising specific functional skills (handwriting, dressing) in structured, graded ways.
Motor learning strategies: Teaching children how to plan, monitor, and adapt their movements.
Sensory integration: Addressing underlying sensory processing differences that contribute to coordination difficulties.
Environmental modifications: Adapting the school and home environment to reduce the impact of coordination difficulties.
What Omora Care Wants You to Know
DCD is real. It is not clumsiness. It is not laziness. And it is not something your child will simply grow out of without support.
With the right intervention, children with DCD make significant, meaningful progress. They learn to write, to dress themselves, to participate in sport, and to feel competent and confident in their bodies.
Your child deserves to move through the world with confidence. We can help them get there.
