Every child trips over their own feet now and then. But when the stumbles, dropped balls and battles with buttons keep coming, it may be worth taking a closer look.
Gross motor skills – the big movements that let children run, jump, climb, throw and balance – develop at different rates, which is why it can be hard for parents to know when to relax and when to act. The earlier a coordination issue is spotted, however, the easier it is to address, and the better placed your child will be in the playground, the classroom and beyond.
Debbie Evans, Founder and Clinical Director of Sydney children’s therapy service Therapies for Kids, shares five warning signs to look out for – and practical, playful ways to help your child build their skills at home.
1. They’re Slow to Master the Big Milestones
The signs: Your child is older than two and can’t jump on the spot, has difficulty running at three, can’t walk up and down stairs one foot per step at four, or struggles with hopping and small hurdles between the ages of four and five.
How to help: Strengthening activities are a great place to start – and they’re easy to turn into games. Try animal walks around the backyard or living room: stretch up tall for a giraffe walk, get down on hands and feet for a bear walk, or flip over for a crab walk. Children rarely notice they’re working hard when they’re pretending to be a bear.
2. Playground Games Are a Struggle
The signs: By five or six, most children can throw and catch a tennis ball, play handball and use a skipping rope. If your child can’t, they may be having trouble with gross motor coordination.
How to help: Repetition is key – little and often works better than long, frustrating sessions. Debbie suggests keeping a skipping rope, ball or scooter in the car so you can make the most of any time outdoors to practise hand-eye coordination.
“I suggest playing handball with your child,” she says. Start with catching and bouncing the ball, progress to catching a bouncing ball, then have your child bounce the ball to themselves or off a wall.
3. They Find It Hard to Plan a Movement Safely
The signs: In school-aged children, a tell-tale sign is difficulty planning movements safely. That can look like trouble navigating a busy classroom or playground, hesitancy on stairs, frequent tripping, or being unable to follow a movement sequence such as hopscotch.
How to help: Keep every activity fun. Mix up the environment – somewhere safe but stimulating – and bring in props such as bubbles, balls, low hurdles, games and songs. Involving siblings and friends helps too, as children tend to cheer each other on and try harder together.
4. Balance Is a Challenge
The signs: Children who struggle with balance often have poor spatial awareness. They may misjudge distances when stepping down from a height, trip over their own feet or the edge of a mat, bump into table corners and doorways, or find it hard to get dressed while standing up.
How to help: Variety is the secret. Offering lots of different activities encourages children to try new things and become more aware of how their bodies balance. Hopscotch and Simon Says are winners, as is a trip to the park. At home, set up an obstacle course with chairs to crawl under, an old mattress to jump on and a skipping rope laid on the floor to jump over.
5. Everyday Tasks Need Extra Help
The signs: If getting dressed in the morning is a daily battle, or your child has trouble doing up buttons and tying shoelaces, coordination could be part of the picture.
How to help: Tailor your teaching to the way your child learns best. Experiment with different kinds of prompts – physical (guiding their hands), verbal (talking them through each step) and visual (showing them, or using picture cards). Once you’ve found the method that clicks, stick with it and repeat, repeat, repeat.
When to Seek Professional Advice
One sign on its own isn’t usually cause for alarm – every child develops at their own pace. But if you notice several of these signs, if your child seems to be falling further behind their peers, or if clumsiness is affecting their confidence, friendships or schoolwork, trust your instincts and talk to your GP or paediatrician. They can refer you to an occupational therapist or physiotherapist for an assessment.
Getting help early can make a real difference – not just to your child’s skills, but to how they feel about joining in.
Therapies for Kids supports children of all abilities. For more information, visit therapiesforkids.com.au.
