Social skills of kindergarten children with Global Developmental Delay (GDD), with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).
Motor-coordination disorder doubles the social-skills hit in preschoolers with global delay—so screen early and weave social-motor play into therapy.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team looked at 58 kindergarteners in Israel. All had Global Developmental Delay (GDD).
Half also had Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Teachers filled out the Social Skills Rating Scale.
The goal: see if clumsy kids with GDD score even lower on social skills than non-clumsy kids with GDD.
What they found
Kids with GDD plus DCD scored 15 points lower on social skills than kids with GDD alone.
The gap showed up in cooperation, assertion, and self-control.
Motor trouble, not just low IQ, hurts preschool social life.
How this fits with other research
Boets et al. (2011) already showed that young learners with DCD join and enjoy activities less. Miri’s team extends that finding: the same kids also have weaker social skills on paper.
Fusar-Poli et al. (2017) found older kids with DCD show more hyperactivity and emotional problems. Miri pushes the risk downward, proving social vulnerability starts before kindergarten.
Gilmore et al. (2022) meta-analysis shows group social-skills classes help teens with autism. Miri warns us to start earlier: if DCD is present, the social gap is already wide at age 5.
Why it matters
When a preschooler has both GDD and DCD, plan for extra social support. Add motor-friendly social games like rolling a ball while naming friends. Screen for DCD in every GDD intake; the label changes your treatment plan.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
AIM: A high prevalence of co-occurring Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) has been noted in the population of children with global developmental delays (GDD). The presence of developmental disabilities in general, and DCD in particular, constitute a risk factor for difficulties in social skills. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies, have examined the unique contribution of DCD to social skills, over and above the effect of other general developmental impairments. The aim of this study was to compare the social skills of kindergarten children with Global Developmental Delay, with and without DCD. METHODS: Participants included 26 kindergarten children with Global Developmental Delay and DCD (Mage = 4.92, 61 % boys), and 26 children with Global Developmental Delay without DCD (Mage = 5.09, 69.25 % boys). All participants' parents and kindergarten teachers completed the Social Skills Improvement System Questionnaire (SSIS). RESULTS: Children with GDD only performed significantly better on social skills compared to children with GDD and DCD. Parents in general reported better social skills and less behavioral problems compared to kindergarten teachers. CONCLUSIONS: The findings contribute to the accumulating body of knowledge regarding social abilities of children with developmental disabilities and present new information as to the unique effect of DCD in this domain. Routine evaluation of social skills should be conducted among children with GDD and DCD, taking into account the negative influence that motor dysfunction has in this domain. Furthermore, children's social performance in different environments needs to be considered by relating to both parents and kindergarten teachers' perspective. Subsequent intervention programs should then address the unique profile of this population.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2021 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104105