dysTalk Dyspraxia Children How To Help - Talks - dysTalk

About the speaker: Amanda Kirby is Medical Director of the Dyscovery Centre in Cardiff. She is a leading expert in dyspraxia (DCD) and related conditions with several best-selling books on the subject.

Further information about this Talk

The Dyscovery Centre:

For more information and guidance about dyspraxia and other learning difficulties please visit the Dyscovery Centre's dedicated parent information site: parent+. The Dyscovery Centre assesses, supports and provides guidance to children, families and adults who have dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, behavioural problems and language difficulties.

Further Reading:

Amanda Kirby's recently published books include the following (please click on them to buy from Amazon):

100 Ideas for Supporting Pupils with Dyspraxia and DCD
Mapping SEN: Routes Through Identification to Intervention
Dyspraxia: Developmental Co-ordination Disorder

Key Points Covered in this talk:

• Dyspraxia Chilren: How to Help: The evidence suggests that there isn't a quick fix cure for children with dyspraxia / DCD. It is important to think about what skills your child needs in the future. Independence is key, therefore helping them learn the everyday skills will be essential. For example to use cutlery and to dress and undress. Self-esteem and social skills are also very important. Giving your child the opportunity to mix with other children is crucial. Dyspraxia children often find they are not getting this opportunity from team games therefore it is important to find sports and activities that your child can participate in. This helps co-ordination, social opportunity and confidence. Find hobbies and activities they can be successful in. Examples might include cooking, photography, swimming, archery and martial arts. These normalising activities can often help more effectively than therapy. The other key area is writing and therefore using keyboards and computers can be the best option for dyspraxia children.