Is Your Child Clumsy?
Is your child clumsy or seems to have a knack for bumping into furniture, walls, and even people? It can be frustrating, worrisome, and even downright comical at times. While being clumsy can be a normal part of typical development during toddlerhood, it can also indicate neuromotor and sensory processing challenges. Let’s look at possible causes and explore practical solutions for parents concerned about their child’s lack of motor coordination.
The Developing Brain and Motor Skills
A child’s brain and body are constantly growing and changing, significantly influencing their coordination and spatial awareness. Balance and coordination develop gradually as a child grows. Toddlers and young children are still fine-tuning their sense of balance, which can result in unsteady movements. Developing motor skills is a significant contributor to children bumping into things. Gross motor skills, in particular, play a pivotal role in a child’s ability to navigate their surroundings safely.
During the early years of life, a child’s brain is rapidly growing and making new connections. This period of neuroplasticity is essential for acquiring new skills and adapting to the environment. The brain gathers information through experience and stores that information to help plan motor sequences better in the future. The brain’s ability to process visual-spatial information, along with perceptual information about where the body is in space and how it is moving relative to external objects, is a complex orchestra, and sometimes the string section may be sleepy, or the percussion section is lagging a beat. If you have ever woken up and stumbled into the coffee pot, you can understand how the brain’s fluidity changes under certain conditions. We have all experienced feeling a bit disoriented at one time or another. That is where the phrase “brain fog” applies. When brain synapses are not smooth and efficient, doing the simplest tasks can be difficult.
Young children may not always make the best judgments when navigating their surroundings. They might not accurately assess distances or visual-spatial information. They may not register accurate information about where and how their body moves through space. Additionally, they may not accurately perceive tactile and pressure input on their bodies, resulting in not noticing how hard they are touching. Peers, siblings, and family members may complain that they are too rough; however, it is not intentional, nor is it with malice. They do feel the same way. Their nervous system takes stronger input to register touch pressure, and consequently, they seek out more input, which can be bothersome to others.
A lesser-known sensory system called the Vestibular System works together with another sensory system called the Proprioceptive System to provide us with a perceptual map of our body and awareness of where we are and whether we are balanced or moving. We have receptors in the inner ear and the brainstem to detect head movement, and we have receptors in our skin, muscles, joints, tendons, and soft tissues that register body movement. This sensory information is carried to higher centers in our brain for precise perception. Still, as the brain is highly complex, it can have processing deficiencies that result in inconsistent or disrupted sensory processing. Sensory processing involves how children interpret information from their environment through their senses.
In some cases, children’s reflexes might not be fully developed, or they may have primitive reflexes that have not integrated, making it harder for them to react swiftly to obstacles or changes in their environment. They might not lift their foot high enough to clear a small step or notice an object in their path in time to avoid it.
Other factors contributing to bumping into things include distractibility, attention deficits, overstimulation, and visual deficits. Crowded places or spaces with excessive noise and bright lights can make it even harder for children to navigate without bumping into things.
When to Be Concerned
It’s important to consider your child’s age and stage of development. Bumping into things is generally expected in toddlers and young children still developing their motor skills and spatial awareness. However, if your child is school-aged and episodes are happening frequently or causing injury, it is important to consult a healthcare provider to evaluate underlying causes.
Sensory processing disorders can affect how children perceive and respond to their environment. If you notice your child struggling with sensory sensitivities, seeking guidance from a pediatrician or occupational therapist may be necessary. In some cases, underlying health conditions or neurological disorders may contribute to a child’s spatial awareness and coordination difficulties. A healthcare professional can help rule out or address these concerns. An undiagnosed vision or hearing problem could contribute to a child’s propensity to bump into things. If you suspect such issues, consult a healthcare provider.
Practical Strategies for Parents
If you’re concerned about your child’s frequent bumping into things, there are several practical solutions to help them navigate their world more safely and confidently.
Supervise your child closely, especially in unfamiliar or potentially hazardous environments.
Offer guidance and help them navigate obstacles until they become more proficient at avoiding collisions.
Physical activity, such as sports and play, can help improve a child’s gross motor skills and coordination.
Regular physical activity can boost a child’s confidence in their movements.At home, create a safe play space where potential hazards are minimized.
Use soft furnishings and padding to protect sharp corners and edges.
Schedule regular vision and hearing checks for your child. Undiagnosed vision or hearing issues can contribute to their difficulties.
In overstimulating environments, try to reduce distractions and sensory overload to help your child focus on their movements.
Teach your child basic safety rules, such as looking where they’re going and paying attention to their surroundings.
Explain the importance of avoiding running in crowded places.
Children learn through experience, and bumps and tumbles are part of the process.
Approach their mistakes with patience and understanding rather than frustration or anger.
If your child’s bumping into things is a persistent issue affecting their daily life, consider consulting an occupational therapist. Occupational therapy can help children develop sensory processing skills and motor coordination.
Children bumping into things is a natural part of their development. As their brains and motor skills mature, their ability to maneuver through their environment generally improves. However, it’s good to be aware of potential underlying issues and to provide the necessary support and guidance. With patience, supervision, and the right interventions, children can often improve their motor coordination and motor control to explore the world with increased confidence and safety.
Kimberley Arnett-DeSimone, a career pediatric occupational therapist in Huntersville, North Carolina, authored this post.
