Can you "fix" a "klutzy" child?

[darien]

This question is about a little boy I have taken care of since he was tiny.

Moses is almost 2. He's very verbal, affectionate, good natured, and adorable! He's also really clumsy. Many people, including his parents, have commented upon it.

He's not an overly daring or rambunctious kid, yet he takes a tumble several times a day. He's been walking for a year, but can still "trip on air." When he runs, he looks like he's constantly on the verge of falling.

He's pretty strong, with good muscle tone. His fine-motor skills seem fine. As far as I know, his (reknowned) pediatrician doesn't see any serious problem.

I know he comes by it honestly, because his mom is (and admits to being) a klutz too!

I make sure he gets a lot of physical play, without me hovering too much. We go to toddler gym, swimming, etc.

I just wondered if there was something I could do to help the little guy's coordination along. Anyone got advice?

[Sharlla]

Hmm, I was a clumsy child and now adult. DH makes fun of me because there literally isn't a set of stairs I haven't fallen down. Heck, I even broke my foot falling off one step LOL. It's terrible. DS2 seems to be about as clumsy as me. I don't think that there is that much you can do.

[lilyka]

Just give him time to go slowly and carefully. I believe (as someone who is completely clumsey) that it is something that come be over come and is mostly caused by carelessness and thoughtlessness. A little more atatention to detail and taking my time and actually thinking about what I am doing prevents a lot of accidents.

[savithny]

Improve, yes. Fix, no.

My DS is like you describe. Always was, from birth. Never climbed high, or walked out onto something without testing it. Toe-walked, fell a lot, didn't do a true run with knees lifted until he was 4.

I was a klutz. Never able to run fast no matter how hard I tried. Tall, but couldn't make a basket to save my life. So was my mother. So I know there's something genetic.

In our case, the toe-walking got us a neuro referral. The neurologist's office testing revealed that DS's reflexes in his legs and feet were somewhat off. We did not pursue further testing, as the neuro saw that he was improving, albeit slowly, and felt that sedating him to run an MRI would not be worth whatever info we might get.

Anyway, the doc's advice was to take DS out and run him around. We did playgrounds daily, signed him up for swimming, etc. Swimming helped a *lot* -- full body movement, developing his muscles.

But he's still noticeably more awkward than many kids his age. Physical skills take him longer to learn - something his very good, very sensitive swim teacher figured out early -- "I used to think he wasn't paying attention," she told me. "But you know, he's working harder than any other kid in the class." He just doesn't improve as fast to show for it. And I sincerely doubt he will ever be a star athelete, unless he finds a sport or position *in* a sport that he can train his body to do.

I strongly disagree that this is carelessness, and it is senselessness only if you think of senseless as - lacking sensation. I think much of DS's issue is tied up in mild sensory difficulties - especially issues in proprioceptive sensation -- knowing where his body is in space. The neurologist felt that the part of his brain that controlled his lower body was probably underdeveloped or slow to develop -- the reflex issue showed that this was, in part, a *physical* difference. Not just "not paying attention" but a physical issue with his ability to control his legs.

My mother and I both, in discussing the neurologist report, have found it speaks a lot to both of our experiences. I think whatever difference in his brain he has is probably genetic and was *certainly* there from birth.

Practice helps. Exercise helps. But it isn't a cure-all.

[kittywitty]

Originally Posted by lilyka

Just give him time to go slowly and carefully. I believe (as someone who is completely clumsey) that it is something that come be over come and is mostly caused by carelessness and thoughtlessness. A little more atatention to detail and taking my time and actually thinking about what I am doing prevents a lot of accidents.

I disagree. I am horrendously klutzy, and so is my ds. It's not that we are careless or thoughtless at all, it just happens. Some people are. Maybe it's from my ear surgeries or maybe it's genetic?

I say give your ds some time. Some people are klutzes no matter what. Just try to help him by keeping him out of harm's way (glass where he can fall on it, etc.)

[wannabe]

I knew a four year old who improved markedly when she started a gymnastics class. She went from tripping over her feet when walking to being able to hop and skip!

[gaialice]

Originally Posted by dnw826

I am horrendously klutzy, and so is my ds. It's not that we are careless or thoughtless at all, it just happens.

I am very clumsy, and my dd2 is a bit, too. And I understand your point, it can be a sign of a minor sensory or coordination problem, and genetics can also be a factor. At the same time, taking the time to do one thing at a time and thinking about what you are doing - not the next thing and the one after the next one - helps a lot too. It really does. We are conditioned not to focus on what we are doing. We are not really present to what we live. That really really does contribute to klutzyness... As to how to help kids become more coordinate and aware of their body, I think swimming really helps and also creative dance (not ballet)

[GuildJenn]

Has his vision been tested? That can be a cause.

[darien]

Thanks for the insights so far, everyone!

I thought of another point to bring up-- Moses can't just lie down on his back for me to change his diaper. He bends over, puts his head on the floor, and then flops to the side. He then looks surprised to find himself sideways or upside down in relation to me.

My kids used to do this, but I know they could orient themselves by the time they were Moses' age. My 19m niece can lie down perfectly on top of her new dipe (She's talented ). Is this a motor planning thing? Is it related to the clumsiness, or separate? Is it important at all, or just a cute baby thing?

[lilyka]

a lot of my clumsiness is probably relate to my sensory issues. Slowing way down and really thinking about what I am doing and forcing myself to be aware fof my body helos tremendously.

It sounds like this child has issues contributing to his clumsiness. it doesn't mean he can't over come them though.

[kristinc]

I see this in alot of the children that i take care of ( I am a pedo/preggo chiro). It is actually due to a difference in their leg lengths due to a tilted pelvis. When our little ones are learning to walk, they fall alot onto their butts and that causes the major bones of the pelvis to misalign and thus making the legs slightly different in length. To check, lie your little one down on their back and bring their feet together (helps if they have shoes on). Look to the insole to see if the legs are the same length. Differing leg lengths will def. cause clumsiness. A few easy, completely pain free adjustments from your chiro will completely clear up that problem.