Building Coordination in Kids with Developmental Coordination Disorder: How Physiotherapy Helps
It’s only natural to worry if your child struggles with tasks other kids appear to learn easily – like tying their shoelaces, writing their name, running or riding a bike. While kids all develop at different rates, persistent challenges with movement or coordination can lead to a diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) – which is also often called dyspraxia.
Children with DCD may seem clumsier than their peers, avoid playing games, or get frustrated with tasks they find difficult. Over time, these challenges can start to affect their confidence and participation in daily life.
The good news is that with the right support, kids with DCD can make great progress. Paediatric physiotherapy helps children build coordination, balance, and motor skills to support participation at home, school, and in the community.
What is developmental coordination disorder?
Developmental coordination disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects a child’s ability to plan, coordinate, and carry out movements. Children with DCD know what they want to do, but their brain and body have difficulty working together to make those movements.
DCD is not related to intelligence or effort. Children with this condition are often bright, creative, and motivated, but they need to work harder than other kids to do everyday things like dress themselves, write, play and move around. This can lead to fatigue, frustration, and avoidance of physical activities.
Developmental coordination disorder affects around 5% of children, or at least one child in every classroom on averagei. It often – but not always – occurs alongside other conditions such as autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Developmental coordination disorder vs dyspraxia
Families commonly hear both terms and wonder: is developmental coordination disorder the same as dyspraxia?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they do not mean exactly the same thing. Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is the formal diagnostic term used in medical and allied health settings. Dyspraxia in children is a common term used to describe difficulties with motor (movement) planning and coordination.
In practice, many families and professionals use “dyspraxia” to describe DCD. Clinically, however, a developmental coordination disorder diagnosis is the term used for assessment, reporting, and access to supports such as the NDIS.
Developmental coordination disorder symptoms
The symptoms of developmental coordination disorder can differ from one child to another and often change as children grow. Some signs appear in early childhood, while others become more noticeable at school once children need to manage more complex motor tasks.
Common DCD signs and symptoms include:
- Delay meeting motor milestones (e.g., crawling, walking, or jumping)
- Poor balance, clumsiness or lack of coordination
- Frequent tripping, bumping into objects, or falling
- Difficulty with ball skills (e.g., throwing, catching, kicking)
- Challenges with fine motor tasks (e.g., handwriting, using scissors, or doing up buttons)
- Avoidance of physical activities, sports or team games
- Fatigue during tasks that require sustained motor effort
- Frustration, low confidence, or anxiety around physical tasks.
Left unsupported, these challenges can lead to or worsen developmental delays. They may affect a child’s self-esteem and willingness to participate in school, social, sporting and leisure activities.
How is developmental coordination disorder diagnosed?
A developmental coordination disorder diagnosis is typically made through a combination of assessments. It often involves several professionals. Diagnosis may include:
- getting a detailed developmental history from parents or carers
- standardised motor assessments conducted by allied health professionals (such as a paediatric physiotherapist and/or occupational therapist)
- input from teachers about how motor difficulties affect school participation
- ruling out other conditions such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or intellectual disability.
Early identification is important. The earlier children receive targeted support, the easier it is to build strong movement foundations and prevent secondary issues such as reduced confidence or lack of physical activity.
Early intervention can build good foundations for movement and participation in physical activities.
The role of paediatric physiotherapy in DCD
Paediatric physiotherapy focuses on helping children develop the physical skills they need for everyday life. For children with DCD, therapy is practical, goal-based, and tailored to each child and family.
Physiotherapists work closely with parents and carers to understand what matters most – whether that’s keeping up with peers at school, improving coordination for sport, or managing daily self-care tasks.
For example, physiotherapy can support children to:
- Improve motor skills needed for daily activities
- Develop better balance and postural control
- Strengthen muscles and build endurance
- Improve coordination and motor planning
- Gain confidence with movement
How physiotherapy improves coordination and motor skills
Physiotherapy can have many benefits for children with DCD.
Improved gross motor skills
Physiotherapy typically focuses on gross motor development, while occupational therapists often support development of fine motor skills when needed. Gross motor skills involve large muscle groups and whole-body movements. Physiotherapy helps children develop better control and coordination for activities such as running, jumping, climbing, balancing and ball games.
Enhanced balance and postural control
Many children with DCD have difficulty keeping their balance, especially during dynamic movements like hopping or kicking a ball. Physiotherapists use targeted activities to improve core strength, postural stability, and balance reactions.
Development of motor planning skills
Children with DCD often have trouble with motor planning – or knowing how to organise movements and do them in a specific sequence. This can lead to challenges with tasks like learning a dance routine or how to serve the ball in tennis. Therapy helps children by breaking movements into steps and practising these steps until they become more automatic.
Greater strength and endurance
Low muscle tone and fatigue are common in children with DCD. Physiotherapy builds strength gradually, helping children stay physically active for longer periods without becoming overwhelmed or exhausted.
Increased confidence through success
Importantly, tailored physiotherapy treatment gives children opportunities to succeed. This helps them gain confidence to try new activities and take part in things that matter to them.
Coordination exercises for kids with DCD
Physiotherapists use play-based, engaging activities to help kids with DCD build coordination.
Examples may include:
- obstacle courses to practise balance, movement sequencing, and body awareness
- ball games to develop hand-eye and foot-eye coordination
- jumping, hopping, and skipping patterns
- balance activities using beams, cushions, or wobble boards
- rhythm and timing games that combine movement with counting or music
- activities that involve coordinated use of both sides of the body (e.g. running, swimming, dancing).
These exercises are adapted to suit the child’s age, interests, and ability level. They are carefully graded so children experience success while still being challenged.
By practising in a supportive environment, children gradually develop the skills they need for more complex movements at school and in the community.
What parents can do to help their child with DCD
Helpful ways parents can support their child include:
- encouraging them to try different activities to find ones they enjoy
- praising effort and progress rather than perfection
- giving them extra time to complete physical tasks
- creating opportunities for active play at home
- breaking tasks down into smaller steps
- celebrating wins, no matter how small.
Regular practice helps improve motor skills children work on during therapy sessions
While therapy sessions are important, children do best when they have regular opportunities to practice. Your physiotherapist should give you a simple home program to follow that fits into your daily life.
Emotional and physical wellbeing and self-esteem
Children with DCD are at higher risk of mental health difficulties including lower self-esteem, social isolation, and depression[ii]. Physiotherapy can help counter this by creating achievable goals and positive experiences of movement.
These children are also more prone to physical health issues related to lack of activity, such as overweight, poor physical fitness and a higher risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease[iii],[iv].
It is therefore essential that children with DCD are supported to take part in physical activity from a young age. This might involve support from an accredited exercise physiologist as well as a physiotherapist.
Developmental coordination disorder treatment through the NDIS
While DCD is a lifelong condition, children can continue to build skills, confidence, and independence with the right supports in place.
Early, consistent intervention can improve:
- Participation at school and in the community
- Confidence and willingness to try new activities
- Overall health and fitness
- Long-term wellbeing and quality of life.
For families seeking developmental coordination disorder treatment, the NDIS can play an important role. NDIS-funded physiotherapy allows children to access ongoing, goal-focused support that adapts as they grow.
Physiotherapy supports may be included under early intervention or capacity building categories, depending on your child’s age and plan goals.
At Active Ability, our experienced physiotherapists can see your child at home, school, or in the community, ensuring they build skills for everyday life. We don’t have a waiting list, so we’re ready to get started when you are.
Learn more or get answers to your questions by calling our wonderful team on (02) 8678 7874, emailing [email protected] or completing our contact form.
