How do young children with DCD participate and enjoy daily activities?
Preschoolers with DCD already join less and enjoy less—so target participation, not just motor skills.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers watched 4- and young learners during play, snack, and circle time.
They compared kids with Developmental Coordination Disorder to mildly delayed and typical peers.
Teachers rated how well each child joined in and how much fun they seemed to have.
What they found
Kids with DCD needed more help and looked less happy than both other groups.
Even simple tasks like pouring juice or stacking blocks felt hard and less fun for them.
The gap showed up as early as preschool, not just in later grades.
How this fits with other research
Tal-Saban et al. (2021) adds that these same preschoolers also struggle more with sharing and taking turns.
Fusar-Poli et al. (2017) followed older kids and found the same group later shows more hyperactivity and mood swings.
Diehl et al. (2012) shows the problem grows: boys with DCD gain extra weight when they avoid play, while girls with DCD stay thin yet still miss out on games.
Caçola et al. (2017) warns not to lump these kids with autism—DCD has its own pattern of delays.
Why it matters
Screen for DCD early. If a preschooler avoids scissors or playground games, probe deeper. Build goals around joining and enjoying activities, not just motor drills. A child who likes play will practice more and fall behind less.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Add one participation goal to your next DCD plan—like 'child will choose and complete a 5-minute play station with one peer.'
02At a glance
03Original abstract
Developmental problems may decrease participation of children. The objective of this study was to evaluate multidimensional aspects of participation amongst preschool children with and without DCD. Participants included 63 children with mean age of 4.96 years (SD=0.62; range=4.02-6.35 years). Twenty one children were diagnosed with DCD, 21 children without DCD who were referred to OT due to mild developmental problems, and 21 children from mainstream public kindergartens whom did not require any developmental intervention. All three groups were matched for age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Children were administered the M-ABC2 and their parents completed the PSQ questionnaire. Results indicate significant differences in level of independence and subjective measures of participation (enjoyment and parents' satisfaction) between the DCD group and the two other groups. The results indicate that from a young age, and in comparison to their peers, the participation of children with DCD is compromised. The integration of the DSM diagnostic criteria and the ICF perception of health enables us to capture the full scope of DCD and its complexity.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2011 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.01.039