Helping a child that cannot run & jump properly?

mrs_sparrow

I suspect my daughter has mild dyspraxia, which has not been an issue at all, until today.

Is there anything I can do to improve her running and posture. She cannot run properly as he legs do not seem to be straight and she has trouble with jumping and riding a bike.

She is almost 10 but a club she has joined needs her to be able to run and jump properly and they were quite rude about it, saying she was lazy and - because she has a tummy from not having any core strength - told me she was 'too heavy' and needs to eat more fruit, less sweets, crisps and biscuits. Which she does not. I was mortified and did not know what to say, when I said she was more crafty than sporty - they said 'oh, lazy'. Doubly mortifed.

How can I help her please, she really wants to do this sport but I do not know what I can do to improve her running. We do not have time to fit more clubs in now.

Own_My_Own

Take her to your Gp. He can refer her to hospital for tests.

My dd had terrible trouble with her legs. Her hips were not aligned, she was often in pain and she would sometimes fall over .
She got insoles for flat feet, which pulled her knees out and aligned her hips.:j

Simple :T

mrs_sparrow

Thank you, I did not know whether I was being over dramatic saying she needed a doctor. I will make an appointment for this week then.

When she runs and walks she is quite flat footed so she thump, thump, thumps when she walks and runs which is not helping.

She is not in the slightest bit lazy IMO and can round around at the park for hours and will be the last one going when the others are in a sweaty mess - however, she is not as fast and not as nimble, but she certainly is not unfit in anyway.

Just a shame they could not see past this as I felt like crap when I came out of there today.

scottishchick27

mrs_sparrow wrote: »

I suspect my daughter has mild dyspraxia, which has not been an issue at all, until today.

Is there anything I can do to improve her running and posture. She cannot run properly as he legs do not seem to be straight and she has trouble with jumping and riding a bike.

She is almost 10 but a club she has joined needs her to be able to run and jump properly and they were quite rude about it, saying she was lazy and - because she has a tummy from not having any core strength - told me she was 'too heavy' and needs to eat more fruit, less sweets, crisps and biscuits. Which she does not. I was mortified and did not know what to say, when I said she was more crafty than sporty - they said 'oh, lazy'. Doubly mortifed.

How can I help her please, she really wants to do this sport but I do not know what I can do to improve her running. We do not have time to fit more clubs in now.

Why would you put your child to this club? They sound awful!

Sorry I can't help with your query though x

Nile

Hello mrs_sparrow

What jumps out for me is this:

The coach turned to me and said my daughter was 'too heavy' and 'overweight' and I should stop feeding her sweets, crisps and junk and start giving her fruit instead. I was absolutely mortified and felt humiliated and said 'I do not' and pointed at my son and said 'he eats the same - he is the size of a stick!!'. She then said 'well, she must be lazy then'. More humiliated.


This is awful behaviour from the coach. Surely a coach should give encouragement, not be critical and make hurtful comments.

Are you sure that the coach is qualified? Is this activity at a leisure centre or is it in a more informal setting?

I'd want to find out if the coach has all the relevant qualifications, certificates, insurance and CRB etc. If there are gaps, it's a concern for any parent.;)

It's great that your daughter has found an activity that she enjoys. She needs encouragement and support.............and that might mean finding another (qualified) coach. If there is no alternative, speak to the critical coach and raise your concerns about their negative, hurtful and unhelpful behaviour.

I hope things improve soon.

Regards

Nile

Person_one

scottishchick27 wrote: »

Why would you put your child to this club? They sound awful!

Sorry I can't help with your query though x

Have to agree, best way to respond to this is to find another club, this one seems to be run by horrid people.

Are you in touch with any local dyspraxia groups? There may be other parents who can recommend good activities or clubs:

http://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/info/local.php

Fire_Fox

How do you know the stomach issue is core strength and not structural or postural? IMO get a proper diagnosis and a movement assessment, and have an exercise professional work on any postural or coordination issues. It's not safe to self diagnose or self treat.

What shoes does she run and exercise in? Might be worth getting her fitted for some junior running trainers that will correct some of the postural issues in the lower body. Head to a running shop or proper sports shop that offers a free gait analysis - legs video'd running on a treadmill. If you get the issues and shoes written down whilst you 'think about it' you may be able to buy last years model cheaper somewhere like Sportshoes.

mrs_sparrow

scottishchick27 wrote: »

Why would you put your child to this club? They sound awful!

Sorry I can't help with your query though x

We have to go back regardless of what she said as both children want to do and because my son has disabilities it has been nigh on impossible to find clubs for him - these people will have him and they want him to train for competition, something we have been looking for, for a long time for him.

As I say, I did not think my DD would want to do it, but she did, not being able to do these things has been an issue but if she wants to do this sport I have to deal with the issues otherwise she can't. I guess it has just highlighted them.

mrs_sparrow

Nile wrote: »

Hello mrs_sparrow

What jumps out for me is this:

The coach turned to me and said my daughter was 'too heavy' and 'overweight' and I should stop feeding her sweets, crisps and junk and start giving her fruit instead. I was absolutely mortified and felt humiliated and said 'I do not' and pointed at my son and said 'he eats the same - he is the size of a stick!!'. She then said 'well, she must be lazy then'. More humiliated.


This is awful behaviour from the coach. Surely a coach should give encouragement, not be critical and make hurtful comments.

Are you sure that the coach is qualified? Is this activity at a leisure centre or is it in a more informal setting?

I'd want to find out if the coach has all the relevant qualifications, certificates, insurance and CRB etc. If there are gaps, it's a concern for any parent.;)

It's great that your daughter has found an activity that she enjoys. She needs encouragement and support.............and that might mean finding another (qualified) coach. If there is no alternative, speak to the critical coach and raise your concerns about their negative, hurtful and unhelpful behaviour.

I hope things improve soon.

Regards

Nile

Thanks Nile, I edited it as it was long and it was late and I only have 15 mins to reply this morning - yes she did say this.

Yes it is a proper competition club in a proper setting, my DD joined in as she was there and took part for 2 1/2 hours without flagging, which is why I was a bit dumb struck with the comments, my DD will do this just for leisure and not for competition, but it gave me the impression they did not want her there for that reason but it's tough if I am paying for it. If DD does have a problem with running I want to be able to turn and say 'it's for this reason you ignorant cow' I suppose.

There are other coaches other weeks so I am just going to see how it goes when the others come back.

mrs_sparrow

Person_one wrote: »

Have to agree, best way to respond to this is to find another club, this one seems to be run by horrid people.

Are you in touch with any local dyspraxia groups? There may be other parents who can recommend good activities or clubs:

http://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/info/local.php

Ironically, this is one of them...... and it is actually a good one. But as my daughter does not have it I guess they would not know. I knew they took disabled kids when we went but I kept my son's disability quiet and hoped they would take him on the merits of what he was good at (they did).

Would they have said it if I had said 'she has dyspraxia, then no, of course they wouldn't.

Which means I have to speak to the doctor about her. This is not a new problem just one that has never been a massive deal and now it is going to be so I need to get it sorted so I can find out what is wrong with her legs.

I did not want to look stupid and make my daughter feel stupid and inadequate if it was something I could deal with at home with some sort of exercise, that is why I asked, I cannot think of anything I can do other than practice running but she can't run properly.

mrs_sparrow

Fire_Fox wrote: »

How do you know the stomach issue is core strength and not structural or postural? IMO get a proper diagnosis and a movement assessment, and have an exercise professional work on any postural or coordination issues. It's not safe to self diagnose or self treat.

What shoes does she run and exercise in? Might be worth getting her fitted for some junior running trainers that will correct some of the postural issues in the lower body. Head to a running shop or proper sports shop that offers a free gait analysis - legs video'd running on a treadmill. If you get the issues and shoes written down whilst you 'think about it' you may be able to buy last years model cheaper somewhere like Sportshoes.

I don't. But she has no core strength at all and core strength does help with the way you hold yourself and look. Which is why I asked if there was something I could do at home or whether it was something I should seek medical help about.

She doesn't really 'run' other than for school and generally running around and she is in primary so there is not a huge amount of running done there. When she runs at the club it'll be without shoes anyway.

I have noticed that all of her dads side have the same problem with their legs being this shape so I am guessing this is a hereditary thing she has but it is doing this activity that has highlighted it and so now I need to deal with it. At least it'll be dealt with before secondary school then.