Be patient. Aim to repeat a skill or movement pattern a few times. If your child isn’t responding to the new skill, leave it and try again another day. When participating in physical activity or learning a new movement pattern, your child will benefit from:

• repetition
• structure
• familiarity.

Sometimes, it can be hard to see progress in the short term. However, in the long run, it can be rewarding to observe the significant improvements that your child has made in their motor skills by being patient and consistent.

Your child will continue to grow and develop in their own unique way. If there are certain things that they are currently unable to do, it's important to appropriately challenge those limitations and assumptions. Perhaps they would enjoy a certain activity or benefit from trying something new. Talk to your child's doctor to see what may be appropriate for them.

Remember, you are your child's champion, and they rely on you to guide them through life.

Establishing a consistent routine that works for your child can help develop healthy habits. Find what works for your child and your family. This might be a certain time of the day, such as directly after school, or getting active in a particular area, such as the local park. Having a routine will help provide your child with structure, familiarity and some predictability in their lives.

While it may be challenging to introduce a new activity, the outcome will be rewarding once you get past the initial few days.

The more notice you give your child about a movement activity, the more likely they will comprehend and respect that time. Having multiple check-ins is also helpful. Saying things like 

• “tomorrow we will be going on a small bushwalk near the local park"
• when you wake up - “we’re going to eat our breakfast, get ready and leave for our bushwalk in 1 hour”
• “15 minutes until we are ready to leave”
• “5 minutes until we are ready to leave”.

Displaying pictures on the fridge or pinboard may be helpful for some children so they can visually see their day.

Children enjoy and benefit from receiving attention and feedback after completing a task or physical activity. Rather than focusing on the outcome or aiming for perfection, it's important to acknowledge the effort the child puts into practicing and completing the activity. This approach can help children develop a growth mindset, where they understand that results can be achieved through hard work and practice.

There are many health professionals that are trained in your child's disability and movement. They will understand how to modify physical activity to your child's abilities. Book your child in to see an occupational therapist or physiotherapist.