Helping a child that cannot run & jump properly?

skivenov

mrs_sparrow wrote: »

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.

On a separate note, please don't do this to instructors/coaches/youth workers. A lot of us have experience of working with people with disabilities, and a support network that we can get advice and information from, but if we're faced with a child described as "normal" (no such thing)/able-bodied/etc who starts to exhibit signs of a condition when the parents aren't there, we find ourselves in a very worrying situation.

McKneff

You said in your first post you suspect she has dyspraxia.

Has she ever been diagnosed by a specialist in this field.

jellyhead

mrs_sparrow wrote: »

Just reading up on it and feel a bit crap now.

Sorry to moan. Feel like a terrible parent for not dealing with this until now.

You said it hasn't really caused her problems, so that's why you haven't dealt with it before. You're not a terrible parent!

mrs_sparrow

McKneff wrote: »

You said in your first post you suspect she has dyspraxia.

Has she ever been diagnosed by a specialist in this field.

Not a specialist but the lady who runs the local dyspraxia group mentioned I should get her checked for it as our kids were both at gym together and dd struggled with mastering the basic moves.

She did not continue there but as I say, it's not been an issue until now. I've just always had it in the back of my mind.

mrs_sparrow

Update: I've sat down with dd this evening and we have had a nice chat about what the lady said and had a cuddle and she drew a lovely picture saying I was the best mummy ever - made me well up a bit. She does not seem to bothered by the weight comments now so that is good.

I've also explained that she has a doctors appointment and I explained that we need to check on her legs and that her not being able to run properly needs to be looked at. Again, she is happy with that.

Some thing else I have noticed, she walks upstairs with her legs apart and she leans to each side as she goes IYSWIM. All these little things that I have noticed but have not taken in the bigger picture as to why she might be doing it.

I laid her down (as per the NHS directions to check on the gap) and measured the gap between her feet and it is 17cms - more than 10cms is considered serious and needs to be dealt with. I cannot pull her ankles together and before they even meet it is causing her pain in her hips. I cannot pull her ankles together at all.

In a strange way I am pleased the lady said something (although I am still cross with the way she said it) but this has made me post here and all of the thoughts and issues have made me realise that there could be a real problem with her legs/hips and we can get it sorted while she is younger and not have permanent damage later. There are a lot of knee problems in the family on my husbands side so this and they also have knock knees so it is an interesting co-incidence.

I will see what the doc says on Thurs when we go. I still feel awful for having left it this long but hopefully we are going to be able to get it sorted out. I will let you know then, if there is any issue.

Thanks for your voices an opinions. I *know* that it is not my fault but I still feel bad for letting her get to this age without realising. Onwards and upwards though, we will get this sorted out hopefully.

daska

I'm glad you're both happier now.

A lot of physiotherapy departments have a specialist in gait analysis, it sounds as if that's where she needs to start.

mrs_sparrow

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

WHY WHY WHY take her back there?

The woman isn't going to be ashamed and contrite - she's going to be looking at your daughter as the fat kid whose mother is convinced she has a real medical problem. Every time she looks at her, she'll see a useless, lazy, greedy brat and not the real child. Even with shoe inserts, if that's the correct treatment.

And your daughter will realise this if you keep taking her there.

Sometimes you have to do things the children don't like. In this case, it's finding somewhere else for her.

And making an official complaint about the spiteful !!!!!.

Well, if she does not take part, she'll be sitting on the balcony with me for 3 hours. If she wants to take part, she should be able to.

There are no other clubs locally that offer this sport - what is more I've been looking for a club to take my (special needs) son for years 9 to no avail without them treating him like he cannot do anything more than a forward roll - and these people are taking him for competition training. Something he wants and needs.

I have since checked my DD legs jojo and they do not meet at the ankles so she does have a problem that is stopping her running normally.

In fact I am going to go and see that woman and say 'actually I'd like to thank you for mentioning about her being heavy, because she does not eat crap and because she is active and fit I've looked into it more and she has a problem with her legs and (hopefully) she has been referred for investigation.' Then hopefully she can deal with other parents in another way instead of assuming they get fed junk - especially if they cannot run properly!!

madtrekker

I think you're doing the right thing getting her legs checked by a GP. I was born with a dislocated hip which wasn't diagnosed at birth as it should have been. At the age of 4 I couldn't jump and this apparently is a strong marker for hip problems. I hope I haven't worried you too much.

iwannanicerlife

mrs_sparrow some of the things you have typed sound very familiar. Is your daughter "floppy" at all? If so look into benign joint hypermobiity.

Definitely get her checked out x

purple.sarah

I would make a complaint about that coach! Your daughter needs a coach who understands her needs to help her improve. She's at an impressionable age and those hurtful comments could have a lasting impact on her.

It sounds like she could benefit from physiotherapy for her physical issues, check with her GP.