Put a sock in it.

SIMPLY IMPOSSIBLE.  ( the complications of a seemingly simple task for those with dyspraxia/DCD)

Following on from my blog re toilet troubles I thought I would look at the skills required to successfully put on a pair of socks. One of those 'simple' tasks that other children seem to simply just do. Initially I was going to write about getting dressed as a whole but on closer examination of the subject I realised that each item of clothing is testing and so I have chosen just one.

Socks come in sizes (as we know) so that they fit a foot snuggly and comfortably. For someone with compromised motor and perceptual skills that means that one needs to get a seemingly big item (a foot) into a rather small floppy one (a sock). Before the task is even begun the child with dyspraxia may visualise their failure at it.

The task requires good body awareness, an awareness of one's position in space, stability, flexibility, and very good fine motor control. All things that a person with dyspraxia has difficulty with.

Just to remind you:- 

Motor skills are a function, which involve the precise movement of muscles with the intent to perform a specific act. Most purposeful movement requires the ability to "feel" or sense what one's muscles are doing as they perform the act.

Perception = the way you take in information through your five senses and make that information meaningful to you. Your Perceptual Style acts as a filter between sensation and understanding. It is at the core of who you are and it impacts greatly on how you function.

If we simply leave the child to the task, the end result will at best probably be odd socks put on poorly with the heel uppermost and a huge number of creases which will cause sensory issues when the foot is put into a shoe.A worse the child will become so frustrated they may experience a 'melt down' and the whole family is left feeling wretched.

How we can help.

Buy socks that have a good visual reference. Coloured toes and heels for example.

Try and buy really stretchy socks with plenty of 'give'.

Factor in some extra time to allow your child reasonable opportunity for success. I you are in a rush put the socks on for the child if that saves tempers and frustrations (if you are going to have to 'give in' eventually then give in  quickly)..

Backward chain the activity. SO......

Consider the process in its entirety and break it down thus...

• Place the sock on the foot and over the heel initially and ask the child to pull it up the leg. Allow them to be successful at this several times.

• Place the sock over the foot and stop before the heel. Allow the child to pull it over the heel and up the leg. Again opportunity for  practice makes perfect.

• Place the sock over the toes and ask the child to complete the task. Lots of repetition of this stage will increase confidence and foster a 'can do' attitude.

• Let the child have a go at the whole process.

JOB DONE!!!

Chaining is a technique used in to teach individuals with developmental disabilities complex tasks by breaking them down into discrete responses or individual behaviors. With a backward chaining procedure, all of the behaviors in a single task are completed by the trainer except the last step.

I appreciate that by doing this for every task the parent/supporter may get exasperated and/or exhausted but by breaking down tasks into manageable steps we enable the child to succeed and in doing so they will approach the next task with greater motivation. 

This works well for adults too who may experience a sense of panic when facing a new task socially or at work. A reasonable adjustment would be for someone to break down the tasks expected of them and allow the individual to practice them in a non threatening and relaxed situation until they has been mastered. A little time and patience to start with will pay dividends.