just wondering if someone could help me with an element on my course.
Need a list of activities to aid a child with dyspraxia,been on loads of web sites but cant seem to find any activities as such.
Also need list of behaviours shown by children with dyspraxia and list of practical strategies to aid a child with dyspraxia.

Hi - my son is dyspraxic so will just look out my info ... (from local health authority)

Recommended sites (by them)

The dyspraxia foundation -

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The discovery centre -

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Canchild (Candadian, Centre for childhood disability research -

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What age group do you need activities for?

For younger children - memory games help organisational skills, things like:
I went to market and bought ... 1 item added (alphabetical)
matching pairs card games
Kim's game (items on a tray, cover and then remove one)

For postural control, there are several activities:
Initial activities include things like - position child on all 4s to play a board game, colour or write - have child reach up for game pieces, colours etc

More advanced are tug of war games, wheelbarrow walk, supporting above child's knees at first (but only if your back is ok!) Swimming is also good, as are climbing and cycling - anything where they have to maintain balance really.

Organisation can be a problem for a dyslexic child - help the child develop their own strategies for learning. Keep a list which can be referred to later when learning new tasks eg repetition, visualisation etc. Colour coded filing systems can help organise information and therefore organise learning.

Encourage the child to keep a place for a list of questions where they have not understood something and arrange a time to go through them with the teacher, if necessary.

Plan out and write a list of what they need to do. Ticking off a list can be motivating - if a realistic length.

Maybe use a dictaphone in class - they can then make note later at their own pace.

Written info should be kept simple - use a card to block out information/text not needed at that time.

Keep only necessary items on the desk

Identify a place or container for each belonging - or have a tray where all personal pens/pencils etc are kept and maybe a drawstring bag on their peg for pumps, book etc - labeled items can be returned to the bag.

You may also need to teach dressing skills, tie laces, shoes on "right" feet etc

I have more ... is this the sort of stuff you need?

Someone posted this on another forum I use - may help you.

The symptoms
By 3 years old
Symptoms are evident from an early age. Babies are usually irritable from birth and may exhibit significant feeding problems.

They are slow to achieve expected developmental milestones. For example, by the age of eight months they still may not sit independently.

Many children with dyspraxia fail to go through the crawling stages, preferring to 'bottom shuffle' and then walk. They usually avoid tasks which require good manual dexterity.



Pre-school children - 3 to 5 year olds
If dyspraxia is not identified, problems can persist and affect the childís life at school. Increasing frustration and lowering of self-esteem can result.

Children with dyspraxia may demonstrate some of these types of behaviour:

Very high levels of motor activity, including feet swinging and tapping when seated, hand-clapping or twisting. Unable to stay still
High levels of excitability, with a loud/shrill voice
May be easily distressed and prone to temper tantrums
May constantly bump into objects and fall over
Hands flap when running
Difficulty with pedalling a tricycle or similar toy
Lack of any sense of danger (jumping from heights etc)
Continued messy eating. May prefer to eat with their fingers, frequently spill drinks
Avoidance of constructional toys, such as jigsaws or building blocks
Poor fine motor skills. Difficulty in holding a pencil or using scissors. Drawings may appear immature
Lack of imaginative play. May show little interest in ëdressing upí or in playing appropriately in a home corner or wendy house
Limited creative play
Isolation within the peer group. Rejected by peers, children may prefer adult company
Laterality (left- or right-handedness) still not established
Persistent language difficulties
Sensitive to sensory stimulation, including high levels of noise, tactile defensiveness, wearing new clothes
Limited response to verbal instruction. May be slow to respond and have problems with comprehension
Limited concentration. Tasks are often left unfinished


By 7 years old
Problems may include:

Difficulties in adapting to a structured school routine
Difficulties in Physical Education lessons
Slow at dressing. Unable to tie shoe laces
Barely legible handwriting
Immature drawing and copying skills
Limited concentration and poor listening skills
Literal use of language
Inability to remember more than two or three instructions at once
Slow completion of class work
Continued high levels of motor activity
Hand flapping or clapping when excited
Tendency to become easily distressed and emotional
Problems with co-ordinating a knife and fork
Inability to form relationships with other children
Sleeping difficulties, including wakefulness at night and nightmares
Reporting of physical symptoms, such as migraine, headaches, feeling sick


By 8 to 9 years old
Children with dyspraxia may have become disaffected with the education system. Handwriting is often a particular difficulty. By the time they reach secondary education their attendance record is often poor.
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wow Miss Hooley!!

brilliant and comprehensive advice there!

thankyou

Thanks - sort of my pet subject at the moment!

Thats very helpfull Miss Hooley as we are having a dyspraxic child join us in September in year 4. Allthough I may not be working with him I will be one of his LSA and I will pass on this information onto the TA who will be working with him.
Thanks

The lad I work with has aspergers and dyspraxia not a good combination! Some of these symptoms come up in both... just wonder if he 'feels' then more, poor thing.

thanks miss hooley so much.Helped me loads maybe you could lecture on this subject?
kerryl xxx

ASD and dyspraxia aren ot an uncommon mix.

Found this useful for dyspraxia:

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