Gross and Fine Motor Problems

Some children appear to be clumsy and uncoordinated early on.  They have difficulty learning to walk, playing sports, skipping rope or playing games like other children do. Until fairly recently, this lack of coordination was considered merely a phase that the child would “grow out of”, but it is now known that that isn’t the case. 

Children with persistent problems of motor control may have one of the conditions classed as developmental coordination disorders (DCD).  DCD can affect not just the large muscle groups responsible for walking or moving around, but also the fine muscle groups that are needed for printing/writing or manipulation of utensils or tools.

Another group of children may have problems talking clearly that may be related to control of the tongue and lips.

See the Resources section for links to other web sites that can help with these motor problems.