How can we teach kids eliminate clumsiness?

Question

How can we teach kids eliminate clumsiness?

Answer 1

Most children will overcome clumsiness as they grow and develop.

The following is about those that don't.

Many school-aged children struggle to learn motor skills that their peers have already mastered. Such children, often described as "clumsy," may have difficulties with writing and self-help skills such as dressing and self-feeding. The diagnosis of clumsiness in children is often missed because parents may not recognize their child's uncoordination as a significant medical problem. When parents mention their child's awkwardness to a physician, their concerns may be dismissed; physicians commonly reassure parents that children will outgrow clumsiness. In the past 20 years, however, research has demonstrated convincingly that in the majority of children, these motor deficits tend to persist throughout, rather than resolve during, adolescence and adulthood.

Treatment

When diagnosing clumsiness in a child, the family physician should first demystify the condition for the family. Parents need to know that these motor difficulties are likely to persist but will probably be less troubling in adulthood. The physician may ask an older child whether he or she is teased about uncoordination, while expressing recognition, sympathy, and support. Teachers should be informed that what may appear to be sloppiness or laziness is the manifestation of a disability.

Clumsy children may be encouraged to participate in sports such as swimming and horseback riding to help them experience some athletic success. Some schools will alter a child's academic and physical education classes so that the activities match the child's motor abilities. While there is little evidence that occupational therapy produces sustained improvement in general motor skills, such therapy can serve to improve particular motor skills, educate parents, and address issues of self-esteem.

Occupational therapy, individualized to meet the particular needs of a clumsy child, appears to be the best treatment approach based on current data.  Research is producing data that may discern whether particular techniques, such as cognitive approaches, are more effective than other forms of occupational therapy. The evidence that these children suffer much more than their peers from academic, emotional, and behavioral problems should compel us to intervene on their behalf.

source and a whole lot more about it here:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3...

Answer 2

You can't.  Children are growing and the clumsiness is normal.

You can, however, teach children more body awareness by playing physical games, dancing and doing exercises with them, throwing balls - all these have children using their muscles and their bodies.

Answer 3

you cant, they grow out of it. but i think you can take some away... by giving them confidence.

Answer 4

Hi Hannah,

Children are not really clumsy. They are learning to be more aware of their body and figure out how to move without knocking things down. I taught kindergartners for 3 years and now third graders, and they are all developing the same skills. As mentioned above, try working with them on core movements, anything that will help them learn to balance. They can practice standing on one leg for as long as they can...have a class competition. Remember, we were going through the same thing when we were little and having adults get frustrated with us because we broke something on accident felt horrible. Put yourself in their shoes. Good luck!

Answer 5

There are several things that you can do for/ with a child to improve clumsy falls/ bumps / accidents.

First assess the child, do they have a physical hurdle to overcome? (ie: legs growing properly/ good vision - near or farsighted children tend to be more clumsy.) If everthing has been assessed with a professional dr./ teacher/ theorpist/ ect then check out activities that you can do to improve agility.

Remember in heath class that part of your brain that controls balance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebellum - this is the thing in your body that tells you to lean to the right when you start to fall to the left. Just like any other part of your body it needs exersise to function well.

In children the cerebellum develops rapidly! At birth you can not even roll over, and 12- 18 months latter you are standing up and runing all over the place. Sometimes with children their bodies develop faster than the cerebellum, this some times causes clumsy falls and spills (espically in preschoolers, and children going through adolence).

So how to resolve the problem: decide if the clumsy bevhavior is due to a lack of fine motor skills ( pouring/ writing/ hand eye cordination) or large motor skills ( falling/ tumbeling/ catching/ balance/ running /jumping ect.)

If it is gross motor skills ( big movement) then try assessing the 8 basic LM movments --Walking,  Running/ Jumping (2 feet)/ hopping (1 foot - test each leg)/ skipping/ galloping/sliding/ leaping. after we do this them we can design activities for the child - remember practice makes perfect. Look at sports that will develop and challange the child: soccer/ gymnastics/ martial arts/ dance / ics skating/ skiing/ bike riding/ skatebording ect. In Montessori classrooms we use an activity called walking the line. We play music and walk heel to toe keeping our feet on a tape line circle ( important because there is no end and no need to pivot) you can increase the difficulty by using fast/ slow music - carrying an object ( ie water - and dont spill - a bell and dont let it ring) With practice children will become more agile and less clumsy.

Fine motor skills ( small controled movement): this is usualy what you see at the dinner table - missing their mouths when eatting, difficulty holding silverware, spilling ect. you can improve this by developing fine motor skills through some manipulative materials -- clay, play doh, floam ect. after the muscles in their ting hands are stong you can teach tem to hold a child sized spoon - you can find these at cost plus world market -- they should not be baby spoons, but real spoons scaled down in size - also check out japanse 1.50 stores.  cutting , and pouring activities are aslo important! remember to use child sized material glass glasses for drinking that are the right size for your child. ( check out montessori services catalog or for small hands ) this will increase their sucess and build their confidence - thus making them less clumsy.

Remember also that children develop at diffrent rates and not to hold your own child to anothers bench marks. practice practice practice! Run outdoors with your child! Ride a BIKE!! Get envolved in a sport that your child likes!!! These will improve your childs agility.

Answer 6

I don't think you can, you just have to be understand and allow them to be clumsy. I know, it can be frustrating at times. They will grow out of it. Adults have there moments too.

Answer 7

very difficult, children are growing and developing their physical skills at such at a rapid rate that clumsiness is unavoidable. Best to be patient and ensure that the environment is suitable and as safe as can be. Be prepared to wipe up some spills and be loving and concerned when faced with bruised knees. It is important that children are given opportunities to practice thier independent skills in a way that is appropriate to their age and abilities.

In mean time you may be able to help a little by giving the children some activities to help them focus on being careful for instance egg and spoon balancing (OUTside with boiled eggs!!) , pouring water from one container to another, balancing bean bags, etc: hope this helps

Answer 8

That's kind of dumb. Everyone is clumsy in something at one time or another. Why put undue stress on a child over something that is so silly to be worrying about.