How can one tell if a toddler is dyspraxic? Raisingkids.co.uk's guest expert Jill Curtis advises how to observe your child's behaviour for signs, before rushing for specialist help.

Raisingkids member's problem
My 3 yr-old boy started playgroup recently. The playgroup leader reported he isn't mixing with other children, that he's clumsy and trips over them. He also doesn't know whether to use right or left hand. She also told me she thinks it's dyspraxia. What are your views?

Jill Curtis's advice
Children develop at very different rates. If you look at a group of 3 yr-olds you'll see a wide variation in skills and behaviour. I can well understand that the group leader's comments worried you. Dyspraxia is a term we have heard used more widely over the past few years, yet many people don't know how to define it. The word is often used to describe a clumsy or uncoordinated child, but it often means different things to different people. On the plus side, many children whose problems were ignored in the past now find help. On the down side, giving a child a label without an assessment can just cause confusion for parents.

The term dyspraxia should only be used by an occupational therapist, paediatrician, or clinical psychologis, and then only after detailed observation. You don't say whether you've had worries about your son meeting his developmental milestones - can he kick a ball, stand on one leg, and begin to ride a bike? Play games with him to help him develop these skills. Invite one of his nursery group back home for one-to-one play, and make sure there are some exciting activities, such as painting or working with Duplo. Get the children involved in a game of hopscotch or pastry making which you can do with them and help your little boy learn to play with another child. Teach him to take turns and to share. Make sure your son has plenty of time for rough and tumble and for swimming.

Most importantly, your son should be helped to remain confident, so watch out for signs of frustration. Any help to develop his coordination will be hugely beneficial. Many young children stand and watch rather than joining in with their peers, so it may just be that he needs more time to settle into nursery life. Watch, and wait, and keep a record of anything which worries you. Then, if you feel your child is struggling in any area, get a more qualified opinion about the extra help your son may need. Details you have kept about progress, or areas of concern, will be of great help to the professional involved in an assessment.

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