How to Deal With Dyspraxia Infographic

The Dyspraxia Infographic

The Big Picture of Dyspraxia

• Easily distracted
• Difficulty learning new skills
• Clumsy
• Simple tasks can be a struggle
• Inefficient
• Transitions are tough
• Difficulty with sequencing organization
• Derailed mid-task
• Difficulty navigating through crowds
• Avoids novel tasks
• Struggles to follow directions
• Repeats preferred activities over and over
• Requires more tome to master any task
• Poor short-term memory
• Takes longer to complete tasks

The Details of Dyspraxia

Gross Motor

• Needs more help on playground
• Bumps, trips and falls
• Stairs
• Balance
• Coordinating the two sides of body
• Sports
• Bicycle riding
• Running, hopping, skipping, jumping
• Catching and dribbling
• Alternating feet on stairs

Play

• Reluctant to join ongoing peer play
• Hesitates on the playground
• Repeats preferred activities over and over
• Limited play schema, e.g., banging, throwing, lining up cars
• May prefer imaginary play to playground

Fine Motor

• Drops
• Spills
• Clumsy manipulating cards, beads, pegs
• Pencil/crayon grasp
• Labor intensive handwriting
• Illegible handwriting (sizing, spacing, writing on the line)
• Messy coloring
• Classroom tools (tape, stapler, scissors)
• Handedness

School

• Independent work skills
• Multi-step directions
• Retaining routines
• Remembering rules
• Fidgety
• Takes longer to produce written work
• Packing and unpacking backpack
• Processing verbal and written info
• Completing assignments in a timely manner
• Learns better one-on-one
• Avoids PE
• Difficulty navigating crowded hallways

Organization

• Breaking down task into component parts
• Initiating and following through a task
• Messy
• Time management (e.g., assignments)
• Coping with time restraints
• Take longer to complete a task
• Gets lost mid-task
• Resistant to changes in schedules and routines

Self-Care

• Messy eating
• Getting dressed
• Buttons
• Shoelaces
• Washing hands thoroughly
• Managing clothing for toileting

Tips for Dyspraxia

School Tools

• Predictable schedule routine
• Everything in its place and a place for everything" (organized classroom and work area)
• Warnings for transitions
• Color code work materials for organization
• Allow more time to complete a task
• Give one instruction at a time
• Seat child away from distractions
• Teach "recess skills" at home

For Home

• Organize play area
• Organize work area
• Velcro schedule or check-off list for daily routines
• Prepare for changes in routine
• Homework organizer to break down academic tasks
• Break down activities and routines into component parts; practice one at a time until mastered
• Give one instruction at a time
• Provide "heavy work" to increase body awareness, eg. rake, shovel, tug-of-war
• Encourage non-competitive physical activity, e.g., martial arts, swimming, skating

Self Care Tips

• Lay out a “person” out of clothes the night before
• Use easy to manage clothing, e.g., elastic waistbands and large neck hole to facilitate independences
• Bathroom checklist on dry erase board
• Fit eating utensils to hands
• Practice shoelaces and clothing fasteners when not pressed for time