The common assumption that children "grow out of" clumsiness is not supported by studies carried out over the last 15 years. About 6% of children lack the motor coordination to perform age-appropriate tasks. Greater awareness of this developmental coordination disorder will improve the rate of identification. Family physicians should incorporate questions about motor skills into their assessments of preschool children.
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1985 Apr;42(4):342-51
[PMID:
3977551]
J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1982 Dec;3(4):191-6
[PMID:
6759536]
Aust Paediatr J. 1987 Jun;23(3):157-61
[PMID:
2444202]
Dev Med Child Neurol. 1987 Aug;29(4):502-7
[PMID:
3678629]
Child Care Health Dev. 1987 Nov-Dec;13(6):361-76
[PMID:
2449983]
Child Care Health Dev. 1987 Nov-Dec;13(6):377-91
[PMID:
2449984]
Dev Med Child Neurol. 1989 Feb;31(1):14-24
[PMID:
2920868]
Dev Med Child Neurol. 1988 Dec;30(6):743-51
[PMID:
3234605]
Child Care Health Dev. 1991 Mar-Apr;17(2):91-113
[PMID:
1711421]
Am J Occup Ther. 1992 Sep;46(9):775-83
[PMID:
1514563]
J Am Diet Assoc. 1993 Oct;93(10):1163-5
[PMID:
8409140]
Dev Med Child Neurol. 1994 Feb;36(2):143-55
[PMID:
8132125]
J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1994 Oct;35(7):1255-71
[PMID:
7806609]
Dev Med Child Neurol. 1995 Apr;37(4):310-9
[PMID:
7535267]
Lancet. 1973 Aug 18;2(7825):368-70
[PMID:
4124539]
Med J Aust. 1975 Feb 22;1(8):233-6
[PMID:
1128410]
Dev Med Child Neurol. 1982 Aug;24(4):448-60
[PMID:
7117703]
Pediatrician. 1986;13(2-3):133-40
[PMID:
2950386]