Hello!
I am writing for my 6-year-old son Caden who was diagnosed with Developmental Coordination Disorder in December. My question is this for all of you: what are three things you wish you or your parents would/could have done early in your life (kindergarten-third grade) that may have positively impacted your life? They could be educational/social/emotional/physical. He struggles with coordination and short-term memory.
Thanks,
Christy
Hello from US
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Re: Hello from US
Hi Christy. If I had to narrow it down to three things my parents could have done to support me early on, they would be:
a) Using positive language to encourage me to persist at physical tasks even if I was
taking longer than expected or seemed to be going about them in an unusual way.
b) Spending one-to-one time with me to develop my ball skills. This was something
which wasn't going to come naturally to me, so I really needed some support. I think
it's a good idea to start by doing easier things such as throwing beanbags from
a relatively short distance, then gradually building up from there.
c) Monitoring how I was interacting with other children. I often got left out by particular
kids who lived near us and my parents were angry at the kids who were doing this, but perhaps
I could have done something differently. I can only speculate that I would probably have been
coming across as not very assertive, so if my parents had observed me they could have then picked
up on this and shown me how to be more assertive.
a) Using positive language to encourage me to persist at physical tasks even if I was
taking longer than expected or seemed to be going about them in an unusual way.
b) Spending one-to-one time with me to develop my ball skills. This was something
which wasn't going to come naturally to me, so I really needed some support. I think
it's a good idea to start by doing easier things such as throwing beanbags from
a relatively short distance, then gradually building up from there.
c) Monitoring how I was interacting with other children. I often got left out by particular
kids who lived near us and my parents were angry at the kids who were doing this, but perhaps
I could have done something differently. I can only speculate that I would probably have been
coming across as not very assertive, so if my parents had observed me they could have then picked
up on this and shown me how to be more assertive.
Re: Hello from US
My three things would be
More positive focuses when learning and more unique different ways of learning !
Just practise co-ordination as much as possible ( makes things easier in the future)
Play to there strengths more, practise activities that they are good at instead of trying to change the ones they are bad at ! Xx
More positive focuses when learning and more unique different ways of learning !
Just practise co-ordination as much as possible ( makes things easier in the future)
Play to there strengths more, practise activities that they are good at instead of trying to change the ones they are bad at ! Xx
Re: Hello from US
Thanks for your responses! I so want to help him in every way I can to be successful and happy.
Cheers,
Christy
Cheers,
Christy
Re: Hello from US
Hi ChristyK,
my advice would be social, ie language, or interaction.
I would also say hand-eye co-ordination, as it was always a major stumbling block for me.
and more supportive, as my father would always make it out to be my mothers fault, and spend hours arguing about me, and what would turn out to be me being Dyspraxic. even though the door was always closed, to try drowning out the noise I would always hear the arguements. and I think that got to me more than my problems.
my advice would be social, ie language, or interaction.
I would also say hand-eye co-ordination, as it was always a major stumbling block for me.
and more supportive, as my father would always make it out to be my mothers fault, and spend hours arguing about me, and what would turn out to be me being Dyspraxic. even though the door was always closed, to try drowning out the noise I would always hear the arguements. and I think that got to me more than my problems.
Re: Hello from US
What you said about your parents reminds me of my own. Not long ago I read somewhere that children who have dyspraxia need to have parents who are patient and understanding- of course this is important for all children, but is especially important for children who have dyspraxia, as they need to have the confidence to have a go at things even if they take longer to do them. I sometimes laugh at the bitter irony of my parents being impatient and intolerant when I struggled to do various practical tasks growing up, while also expecting that when I was older I would get out into the real world and find a job (and hopefully a career). It just didn't occur to them that encouraging me to feel capable and confident in my ability to do things needed to start at home!
Re: Hello from US
I think really the important factors are to have a awareness of dyspraxicia - not only how it affects him now but how its lickly to devlope over time and what other problems may be faced so you can prepare for them.
Try to deal and help as much as you can and don't just realy on other people or the school etc as this will only last for a short time.
Let him deal with things himself and don't just say well thats just the way it is and it can't be done so i have to do it for him. The real thing dyspraxics need is inderpendence and the confidence to be able to do things on there own not just saying well thats just the way it is and leave it or take over it for them.
I also want to say that its really good that your wanting to get help to help yourself and him - this is somthing a lot of us wish our parents did, so a big well done for asking for assistaince
Try to deal and help as much as you can and don't just realy on other people or the school etc as this will only last for a short time.
Let him deal with things himself and don't just say well thats just the way it is and it can't be done so i have to do it for him. The real thing dyspraxics need is inderpendence and the confidence to be able to do things on there own not just saying well thats just the way it is and leave it or take over it for them.
I also want to say that its really good that your wanting to get help to help yourself and him - this is somthing a lot of us wish our parents did, so a big well done for asking for assistaince