Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

If your child seems clumsy, avoids sports, or struggles with everyday tasks like tying shoelaces, using cutlery, or catching a ball, you might wonder if there’s something more going on. One possible reason could be Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)—sometimes called dyspraxia.

What Is DCD?

Developmental Coordination Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how children plan and perform coordinated movements. It’s not due to muscle weakness or low intelligence—children with DCD know what they want their body to do, but the messages from the brain to the muscles get jumbled, resulting in activation of the wrong muscles and thus the child does the incorrect movement pattern.

DCD is more common than most people think—affecting about 5–6% of school-aged children—and can vary from mild clumsiness to significant movement challenges that impact everyday life.

Common Signs of DCD

Parents often begin to notice signs once their child starts preschool or primary school, such as:

• Difficulty learning new motor skills (riding a bike, swimming, hopping)

• Appearing clumsy or “accident-prone”

• Looking uncoordinated and difficulty with following instructions during activities that require rhythm or sequencing, such as dancing or running

• Trouble with handwriting, using scissors, doing up buttons, or completing other daily living tasks (like brushing hair or teeth)

• Avoiding sports, playground activities, or PE lessons

• Fatigue during fine or gross motor tasks

• Frustration or low confidence when activities seem “too hard”

  
  

It’s important to remember that DCD can affect both gross motor skills (big movements like running and jumping) and fine motor skills (small movements like writing or using utensils).

How Is DCD Diagnosed?

Diagnosis usually involves a multidisciplinary team—often including a paediatrician, occupational therapist, and physiotherapist. They’ll assess your child’s motor coordination, developmental history, and how their movement challenges affect daily life.

A referral for assessment is usually made if a parent, teacher or GP notices persistent coordination difficulties.

How Physiotherapy Helps Children with DCD

Physiotherapy plays an critical role in helping children with DCD build movement confidence, strength, and motor planning skills. At COMO Therapy, we use play-based and functional activities to target key goals, such as:

• Improving balance, core strength, and posture

• Enhancing coordination for playground and sports skills

• Building endurance for classroom participation

• Helping kids learn new movement patterns through repetition and fun challenges

  
  

Therapy often includes home exercise programs designed to fit naturally into family life—like games that build balance or obstacle courses that develop sequencing and coordination.

Supporting Your Child at Home

You can support your child by:

• Breaking down tasks into smaller, achievable steps

• Giving extra time to learn new movements

• Using visuals or demonstrations instead of only verbal instructions

• Encouraging active play that builds confidence (biking, swimming, climbing, dancing)

• Focusing on progress, not perfection

  
  

Small wins build confidence—and that confidence often leads to better motor performance over time.

When to Seek Help

If you're concerned about your child's coordination or it’s impacting their daily life, school activities, or confidence, it’s worth seeking advice from a paediatric physiotherapist. Contact us to book an assessment or chat with one of our therapists.