The idea is there, but the action doesn't follow.
Notice the gap between the child's expressed intention and their ability to organise the movement.
Free SenseUp clinical observation guide
You can see the motor difficulty. What should you look at next?
5 Clinical Clues
That Help Therapists Look Beyond the Movement
Use five practical clinical clues to organise what you are noticing, connect movement to everyday participation, and decide what you want to explore next.
If you work with children with DCD, suspected DCD, praxis or motor-learning difficulties, this guide is designed to sit beside your clinical reasoning.
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You can see what happened. Now look at what may be contributing.
Use these five clues before you decide what to try next.
Two children can show a similar movement difficulty for very different reasons. Use these prompts to stay curious, build hypotheses and keep occupational performance in view.
The child misjudges what their body or an object can do.
Explore bodyā€“objectā€“environment relationships and affordances.
The child understands the task but struggles to coordinate it.
Separate task understanding from timing, sequencing, coordination and execution.
The child struggles to learn from an unsuccessful attempt.
Observe whether the child notices the outcome and can use feedback to adjust.
The child can do it today, but not tomorrow.
Look beyond immediate performance to retention, transfer and meaningful participation.
What this guide is
Use it to organise what you notice, consider possible contributors and identify your next clinical question.
What this guide is not
It is not a diagnostic tool, standardised assessment or substitute for individual assessment, clinical judgement or current evidence-based recommendations.
SenseUp reminder: An observation is not yet an explanation. Clinical reasoning involves developing and testing hypotheses while considering the child's strengths, sensory-motor abilities, perception, cognition, attention, regulation, experiences, environment, task demands and participation.
Take it into your next session.
Choose one meaningful activity or participation goal, use the five clues, and decide what you want to explore next.
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