by Rebecca Adele Scarlett

Created on: September 06, 2010   Last Updated: September 08, 2010

A child who suffers from Dyspraxia will stand out from the crowd: he or she may have trouble with gross or fine motor skills, or have trouble speaking.  Unfortunately, in the world of children, such difference often equate to being "stupid" - even if the child in question has above-average intelligence - and can result in teasing or even bullying.  How can children with Dyspraxia learn social skills to help them navigate the often cruel world children inhabit?

Join a Support Group

It's true that children with Dyspraxia - like all children - need to learn how to interact with a wide assortment of other people, but a support group where your child can meet other children with Dyspraxia is a good start.  Your child won't feel so "different" when surrounded by other children who deal with the same difficulties, and the confidence will allow him or her to interact with other children in situations where he or she would normally be shy and hang back.  The social skills gained will be transferable to other situations, and benefit your child at school and during extra curriculars.

Encourage Routine Activities

Doing something over and over strengthens the neural pathways used to plan and execute a series of steps (something children with Dyspraxia tend to have trouble with.)  Not only will your child be better at performing a routine activity (which will head off teasing and bullying) but he or she will probably have more confidence for social interactions if he or she is not worried about whether or not he/she will be able to perform the activity without "messing up".

Focus On Your Child's Strengths

If your child worries that he/she will be teased because he/she is not good at a certain activity, try not to involve that activity in social situations until your child has had more practice.  For example, if your child struggles with speech, focus on athletic activities when trying to make new friends.  If your child has trouble with gross motor skills, focus on calmer activities that don't involve running or jumping.  Being skilled at the activity will help your child interact with others in a confident way.

"Rehearse"

If your child dreads a certain activity, afraid he or she will "fail" and be mocked by others, practice or rehearse at home, or in front of trusted family members or friends.  Try to emulate as much as possible the situation your child will find himself/herself in.  This will help cement those neural pathways to avoid difficulties with the Dyspraxia when the time comes, and improve your child's confidence.

Dyspraxia is not an insurmountable obstacle between your child and a social life.  All difficulties can be overcome with a little time and effort.  Remember, one day the kids who tease will grow up and realize that wonderful people are often "hiding" behind the surface of a learning disability.

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