Therapy guides

Occupational Therapy for Dyspraxia (DCD) in Children

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Dr. Eva Lassey, PT, DPT reviewed the motor and sensory content in this article. The remaining content follows published guidance from the sources named on the page.View full bio · How we write and who reviews it · Last updated August 28, 2026

Occupational therapy is central to supporting children with dyspraxia, clinically diagnosed as developmental coordination disorder. International clinical practice guidelines are clear about what works: task-oriented approaches, which work directly on the everyday activities a child wants to be able to do, rather than approaches targeting underlying processes in the hope that skills follow. Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance — CO-OP — is among the recommended treatments and is supported by several systematic reviews.2 It teaches a child a problem-solving strategy they can apply themselves, which is why it generalizes better than approaches delivered to the child. DCD affects approximately 5 to 6 percent of children and commonly co-occurs with ADHD.

Key takeaways

  • Dyspraxia is clinically diagnosed as developmental coordination disorder, and occupational therapy is central to supporting it.
  • International clinical practice guidelines are clear about what works: task-oriented approaches, which work directly on the everyday activities a child wants to be able to do.
  • Meta-analyzes indicate the most effective therapies are task-oriented approaches, motor training programs, and physical therapy.
  • CO-OP teaches a child a strategy, goal-plan-do-check, that they then apply to new tasks themselves, which is why it generalizes.
  • Approaches targeting underlying processes rather than the activity itself have weaker support and frequently do not transfer.
  • If a program is working on coordination abstractly rather than on tying shoelaces, ask why.
  • DCD involves motor-cognitive processes including executive function, so organization is part of the work rather than a separate issue.

Developmental coordination disorder is a recognized DSM-5 diagnosis affecting motor coordination, with international clinical practice guidelines. → DCD and dyspraxia

What OT addresses here

The specific activities the child wants to do — handwriting, dressing, using cutlery, riding a bike, tying laces · motor planning and sequencing · handwriting and school tasks · organization, since DCD involves motor-cognitive processes including executive function · adapting tasks and environments · building the child's own problem-solving strategies

The evidence, and why it matters

Task-oriented approaches are recommended. Meta-analyzes indicate the most effective therapies are task-oriented approaches, motor training programs, and physical therapy.

CO-OP teaches a child a strategy — goal, plan, do, check — that they apply to new tasks themselves. That's why it generalizes, where approaches working on underlying components frequently don't transfer.

Approaches targeting underlying processes rather than the activity itself have weaker support. If a program is working on "coordination" abstractly rather than on tying shoelaces, ask why.

Goals

Ties his own shoelaces · Writes a paragraph legibly within the lesson · Uses a knife and fork at dinner · Rides a bike without stabilizers

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dyspraxia the same as DCD?
Dyspraxia is the widely used term; developmental coordination disorder is the diagnostic term in the DSM-5. Unlike sensory processing subtypes, DCD is a formal diagnosis with international guidelines.
What approach should we ask for?
Task-oriented. International guidelines recommend working directly on the activities the child wants to do. CO-OP is among the named recommended treatments.
How common is DCD?
Approximately 5 to 6 percent of children.
Does it co-occur with ADHD?
Frequently — DCD is the most common co-occurring condition with ADHD.
Will my child grow out of it?
DCD generally persists, and skills improve substantially with the right approach. The 2019 international recommendations were the first to address adolescents and adults.

Sources

  1. Blank R, Barnett AL, Cairney J, et al. International clinical practice recommendations on the definition, diagnosis, assessment, intervention, and psychosocial aspects of developmental coordination disorder. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. 2019;61(3):242–285. doi:10.1111/dmcn.14132 (PMID 30671947)
  2. Madieu E, Gagné-Trudel S, Therriault P-Y, et al. Effectiveness of CO-OP Approach for Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Review. Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation. 2023;6(1):100260. doi:10.1016/j.arrct.2023.100260 (PMID 37312979)

Disclaimer. For general educational purposes; not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Speak to a qualified clinician about your child.