Dyspraxia

[Nana]

My DD1 happened to mention in a txt yesterday that her oldest boy came out of school with his shoelaces undone. Not a problem, I hear you say. It is for him tho as at 8yrs old he still can't tie his shoelaces. It doesn't seem to bother him by the way.

She tells me they are having a meeting during 1/2term on what's the best way to help him. He has been given the label (how I hate labels) of having Dyspraxia. I'll have to read up on it but I think it's just that he's developing at a slower rate than his peers. It would also explain why when he writes it looks like a spider's run across the page with little inky feet. Aww bless.

Actually it's his second label. The first being that he's dyslexic.

I know how children are different little souls & that they do things at their own pace but I really feel for him. He seems to have so many challenges. He's such a bright little boy.

The answer to the lace problem is not to get shoes with laces, but my DD said they're the one's he chose because they're 'cool'. And heardwearing she added. She said she didn't not want to get them for him as she likes things as ' normal' as possible. It would help his confidence too.

I wondered if any of you Grans have heard of this or is it just another example of giving something a name?

[Gemini]

My ex husbands youngest nephew was diagnosed with dyspraxia at about 5 or 6 Nana. He's grown up now. I had never heard of it until then.
As with anything else there are great variations of the condition.

I know you can get ankle boots which have laces but you don't have to tie the laces. They have a short zip at the side. My GD has had several pairs. I bet you can get something similar in shoes. My GS, almost 7 never has shoes with laces and I doubt he could tie them if he did! There are so many shoes with Velcro fastenings now aren't there?

[Oma]

My DS who. Is 38 now was diagnosed with this when he was young.
couldn't tie laces couldn't ride a bike couldn't climb he had no hand eye coordination at all
Writes with both hands and uses cutlery in what I call the wrong hands. He would also fall over his own shadow.
we just thought he was clumsy. It was his teacher who picked up on it we had never heard of it before.

Anyway to cut a very long story short as he got older it wasn't so bad and he learned to do things differently.
His hand writing is shocking a five year old can write neater but he holds a high profile job down has a family etc and no I'll effects. They do get better as they get older. We found the computer and games helped a great deal also learning to play guitar with his hand eye coordination. . He's also double jointed in his fingers and has flat finger tip pads apparently not uncommon with this condition . They do have problems writing stuff down as its hard when your writing is so bad. He couldn't tie his shoes till he was at least 11 . All good now though

[Sum1Ls]

Teachers used to call it ‘clumsy child syndrome’ - the child who would fall over the pattern in the carpet. Then with greater research, especially into non neurotypical presentations it became a recognised condition. It does often go with dyslexia too.

As with dyslexia, it can’t be ‘cured’ although there are lots of ways to address any difficulties and indeed shoes with Velcro and decorative laces only, is one way of mitigating the challenges this condition presents.

https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/

You might find this website useful.

[Oma]

Sum1 , yes clumsy child syndrome .
My DS didn't display lots of key symptoms when a baby apart from he was a late walker and didn't crawl he was a shuffler, but he was a very bad sleeper , I mean bad very little sleep at all
He was a quick reader but lost interest very quickly In likes of games and Jigsaws and lost his temper quickly , although he would sit and listen to music for a long time ,
There is so many degrees of it and not all children display the same things but being clumsy seems to be a major part doesn't it

He is now so laid back with life he's horizontal at times such a good nature even if he drives me mad at times

[Nana]

Thank you for taking the time to reply Grans. In a way it's comforting to know your DS is holding down a good job Oma. The link is good too Sum1. Gem it's funny how you've come across it too. DD1 has ordered shoes with velcro, so although they're not as 'cool' as the others she wants to make life a little easier for him.

I've already told him that he can have my guitar when he's older & he can't wait. He's great at computer games & OH taught him how to ride a bike a few wks ago when he had a sleepover, after yrs of trying. He's what I call a plodder & I'm sure he'll get there in the end.

[Oma]

Each child works at his or hervown rate. My DS didn't have as many symptoms as some do. He was about 9 before he could ride a bike.
As I said Nana nothing wrong with him now you would never know. Once he hit his teens the symptoms improved I suppose he was lucky.

[Plantaholic]

Very interesting posts.

[Nana]

They are, aren't they Plant. Helped put my mind at ease.

[Sunshine]

As with any of these types of conditions, the best thing is to work out strategies to deal with the difficulties. Eg Velcro shoes or elastic laces etc. The main thing is to play down the difficulties so the child isn’t made to feel different. Remind them that no one is good at everything.

[Nana]

My DD2 called yesterday & I just said in conversation how we were discussing this on here. I couldn't get a word in edgeways. It was like I was the child & her the adult. I was lectured to on the dangers of the internet, how things have changed so much in this modern day, how everyone has an opinion .... the list went on. She was trying to help but I wish I'd kept it to myself. I know for next time.

I was actually going to say how sharing this with you all helped greatly. Honestly I wasn't a teacher, I didn't raise two children & I haven't had any experience with children or had any life experience to feed my knowledge. Kids eh, who'd have 'em?🤣😂 Thank you all for your input. Much appreciated.

[Sum1Ls]

Infuriating Nana. Never mind, as you say, you’ll know what to keep to yourself in future! You do and discuss whatever you want to and keep your counsel.
As they say ‘what the eye don’t see, the heart don’t grieve over’.

[Gemini]

I agree with Sum1.

[Daisy]

Sum - that's a useful and informative link.

I had a friend years ago whose son was diagnosed with upper body dyspraxia, but he was a brilliant footballer. My impression is dyspraxia often goes with conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia and dyscalculia and there are overlapping symptoms like poor organisational skills and short attention span. If this is true it must make it very difficult to diagnose. Nana it's good that the school are looking at positive ways to help your GS. I'd be very interested to hear what the outcome is.

I think many adult children believe their parents know nothing about anything and are total innocents when they venture on to the internet!!

[Gemini]

The nephew of my ex, who I mentioned had dyslexia too, and very poor eyesight, which once discovered was corrected by glasses. He was always a very good little boy, no trouble at all. I always felt sorry for him he was very different to his 2 older brothers.
He still lives with his parents but he works . There are so many levels of this condition, as the above posts show.