Motor planning, or praxis, is the brain’s ability to conceive, organize, and carry out a sequence of unfamiliar actions. This relies heavily on sensory integration—the brain’s ability to take in information from the body and the environment and turn it into an output. When a child has poor motor planning, they may appear “clumsy,” struggle to dress themselves, or find it difficult to navigate a playground. They know what they want to do, but their brain can’t find the “map” to do it.
At Neurobloom, we use sensory-rich environments to challenge the child’s praxis. By engaging in “novel” movements—like navigating an obstacle course or climbing a new piece of equipment—we force the brain to create new neural pathways. This improves their bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body) and their ability to adjust their movements in real-time. Whether it’s riding a bike at Al Mamzar or handwriting in a Dubai classroom, motor planning is the secret ingredient to physical confidence.
The “Obstacle Course” Commute
Turn your living room or a local park into a mini-obstacle course. Give your child a 3-step sequence: “Crawl under the chair, hop over the pillow, and touch the door.” Changing the sequence daily prevents them from relying on “muscle memory” and forces the brain to “plan” the movement anew each time, sharpening their praxis.
Specialist FAQ
- Why does my child struggle with new tasks but is fine with old ones? This is the hallmark of a motor planning issue. Once a task is “learned,” it moves to a different part of the brain. The struggle is in the learning phase of a new movement.
- Is motor planning related to “clumsiness”? Children who frequently trip or bump into things often have poor “body scheme,” meaning their brain isn’t quite sure where their limbs are in space.
- Can sensory integration help with handwriting? Handwriting is a complex motor plan. Improving the brain’s ability to coordinate the hand and eye starts with whole-body sensory work.
Building a more coordinated future starts today. Connect with our sensory specialists at 0507548629 or visit Neurobloom Rehabilitation Centre, Al Nahda 2, Dubai.
