| From | Message |
Jan
11/5/2003
 |
Subject: sports days trauma for dyspraxic kids
Message:
I have two dyspraxic children. The eldest is starting to feel upset when doing PE because he is less able, and worries about coming last, what his classmates think of this and also being picked for teams/games. I shudder at the thought of the approaching sports day because he really does not want to do it. He does not want to come last/not be able to do it in front of the whole school and parents. I attended a lecture at which Dr Kirby advocated removing this stress by allowing a child to skip sports day. Is there an official way I can do this, or do I just let my son throw a sickie. I think they will notice after the first couple of times. There is also a school fundraiser around kids doing sponsored laps on scooters or by running that he is also dreading. We have spoken to the school about how excluded he feels about the sponsored event, but frankly they are not interested. Any legal means of getting him out of this? or are we down to throwing spurious sickies? Is it really just not worth the aggravation if my little boy's self esteem is threatened by making him try to do these public physical things?
Thanks for any advice.
Jan
|
Amanda
31/5/2003
| RE: sports days trauma for dyspraxic kids
Message:
I feel so strongly about the trauma sports days causes.Disability Discrimination Act is one that means that he should not be forced to do something he is not able to achieve.
If school cannot offer alternatives then taking him out may be your only option to preserve his self esteem
Alternative sports days could include:
Crazy golf, clock golf,boules,a victorian games day with hopscotch, two balls, french skipping, chalk art etc -
a scooter is quite good- and many children can use these - so he may like to try this out
|
jan
05/6/2003
| RE: sports days trauma for dyspraxic kids
Message:
Thank you for your advice, Amanda. I did let them do sports day because they said they wanted to. My son came last in everything, and is very depressed. I will get on the case.
Jan
|
joshua
28/6/2003
 | RE: testing
Message:
hey my name is josh and a good way for your son to try and get over this is setting him tasks like him having a practise with the starting gun first if that is why he does not want to go if i were you i would try this task
from josh
p.s. hope this works
|
Judie
30/6/2003
| RE: tsports days trauma for dyspraxic kids
Message:
I sympathise. My 11 year old dyspraxic son came home with the news on Friday that he is running the 800m and the hurdles at his school sports day. Why those events? Because the child who is sports captain decides who does what and nobody else wants to do them. If there is a worse event for a dyspraxic child than the hurdles I've yet to hear of it.
|
Judie
30/6/2003
| RE: tsports days trauma for dyspraxic kids
Message:
I sympathise. My 11 year old dyspraxic son came home with the news on Friday that he is running the 800m and the hurdles at his school sports day. Why those events? Because the child who is sports captain decides who does what and nobody else wants to do them. If there is a worse event for a dyspraxic child than the hurdles I've yet to hear of it.
|
Andrew Hatton
30/6/2003
| Re: Sports Days
Message:
I do not know the formal answer to this query but the school seems not to be excercising its duty of care to all pupils by delegating the responsibility for selecting who does what to an 11 year old child. I think sports trainers would have opinions about this as if a child is put off by doing an innapproriate activity they are likely to later avoid sports they might enjoy and gain benefit from as a consequence of the anticipated trauma of the public nature of performing, even in front of peers.I am 54 and remember my terror at being expected to do cross country running but my delight at being able to swim competetively.
I think this is an occasion where a parent's responsibility to their child exceeds there responsibility to send child to school. I realise it is easier to have a sickie but there are implications in such dishonesty. I think it might be appropriate to say that he is being kept at home that day to protect his health and safety which the school and you have a duty to do (I am not suggesting you do not realise this but think sometimes it can help to be clear about issues involved).
If school are not supportive I think a complaint might be made to school governors. I am a former school governor but do not have experience of such things. I am sure it is possible to get advice from parent support organisations and wish you success. I am very interested to hear how this developes. I wonder if The Dyscovery Centre or Dyspraxia Foundation can put you in contact with parents who have tackled this issue previously or with someone who can give specialist advice. I personally would be prepared to involve school inspectors, Local Education Authority and my councillor and MP and ombudsman.
I suspect that for an 11 year old to run 800 metres competeively who has not built up to the event by traing and practise is very unwise and similarly with hurdles, a fall could result in an injury that could have long lasting effects if proper training about hurdling has not been given.
|
janet
02/7/2003
| RE: testing
Message:
my son looks forward to sports day .at his school he is allowed to choose which race he enters and he will usually choose something fun like egg and spoon where everyone has the potential to make a fool of themselves.he does sometimes get dissapointed if he comes last but is happy if his house does well.I think that if a child really does not want tyyo participate then they should be given an important role such as putting out obstacles,holding the finishing tape or helping to keep score or give out badges.sports days can be important for some kids as it is the only place that they can excel.by the way at high school(at least the one my older kids go to)they dont have to take part.
|
Wendy
03/7/2003
| RE: testing
Message:
Judie is your 11 year old at primary or high school.
My 11 year old is at primary school and has recently had sports day. Although she is dyspraxic she really enjoyed her self. She did the 90m sprint and the relay which all year 6 children enter. No junior child does more than a 90m sprint. The children are encoraged to enter and they win points for their house they do not have to enter if they really don't want to. All the children recived a badge for taking part in sports day.My 13 year old is in high school and she entered herself for the 800m.
Neither school just lets the school captain decide who enters what. 800m seems a bit to much to an 11 year old to me. I would have a word to the school and ask them to keep an eye on what the school captain is doing
|
Judie
03/7/2003
| RE school sports
Message:
He's year 7 of secondary school & the school has a strong sports ethos though to be fair the staff applaud effort as well as excellence. I talked to his SENCO & decided in the end to let him do it as he's so keen. If he didn't want to do it I'd talk to the school. I've emphasised the "if you finish you get a point" part. Watch this space on Monday........
|
Judie
03/7/2003
| RE: testing
Message:
He's in Y7 of secondary school. The school has a very strong sports ethos although to be fair effort is rewarded as well as results. He's mad keen to do both events on the grounds that if a dyspraxic child can run the hurdles the other kids should see that anyone can try anything. Admirable attitude but I just think of the cinders track.
His SENCO would have a word if I wanted but he's so keen that I'm going to let him try. I emphasise the "everyone who finishes gets a point" aspect.
Watch this space Monday......
|
Helen
07/7/2003
| RE: Sports Days
Message:
My dyspraxic 6 year old has just had an enjoyable sports day, even though she came last in almost every race. The 60 children in the year were divided into groups of similar ability. Because they had been practising the races for the last 5 weeks in PE, and her teacher and SSA were really positive about her ability to take part, she was really looking forward to it, and she was much better at skipping with a hoop, and the dreaded egg and spoon, than we would have expected. Unfortunately they hadn't practised the sack race, so her SSA helped her with this, and they won! She was happy as long as she got a sticker for finishing! I realise that as she gets older, sports day may become a less positive experience for her (if she was very anxious about it I would let her miss it), but this year we were all happy!
|
Judie
08/7/2003
| RE: testing
Message:
Well my 11 year old competed in the hurdles yesterday - fell at the first hurdle but picked himself up and finished (last). Then came the 8oo metres. On the final 100 metres or so everyone else had finished and the whole school was cheering him on and encouraged him to finish which he did. He's very pleased with himself and he got a lot of positive feedback from staff and his peers. He feels he's set an example to the other kids - "if a boy with dyspraxia can run these events there's no excuse for others not to compete just because they can't be bothered." On this occasion and for this child it was definitely right to let him enter.
|
Tracey
08/7/2003
| RE: testing
Message:
My 9 year old also really enjoyed sports day and his team came first which he was very excited about. He got alot of support from his peers and needed less help from his helper this year which was good.
|
steph
08/7/2003
| RE: sports day
Message:
my 7 year old son is dyspraxic. we dreaded sports day and i had offerred him to opt out, but in the event our school has seen the light and removed much of the competitiveness of sports day. the infants were put into mixed class teams, and went round an obstacle course of various games, ranging from cricket to hopping etc. everyone got a sticker for participating and my son had a fabulous time, taking part in every game.
|
Nicki
09/7/2003
| re: Sports day
Message:
My daughter's junior school seem to have got it right in my opinion. They do "athletics" in PE lessons. They are timed running against themselves and receive Bronze, Silver and Gold badges and certificates. This means that those who are good at athletics get recognition for this skill, and as plenty of the good athletes don't achieve in other areas of school life, this might be the only time they shine. That's important. The children are encouraged to improve their own personal best ("Do you know, you are only 0.5 of a second off bronze?). My daughter who isn't a great athlete was keen to improve her personal best scores. She was pleased with the bronzes she achieved. Then, sports day is a team event, whereby the children are placed in groups, and have to complete a number of tasks, for points for their house. This system seems to allow for the good athletes to excel and all the children appear to enjoy sports day too.
On the other hand, my dyspraxic son has just had a traditional sports day at the infant school. He came last, but he really enjoyed himself and didn't care at all, and he received a loud round of applause when he crossed the finishing line. I am just glad that when he is 7 and might mind, he won't have to "do" traditional sport's day.
|
ewan
16/9/2003
| RE: testing
Message:
im 14 with dyspraxia and i hate sports not because i don't like them but because the other kids bully me afterwards but because the government say i have to i have no choice and i find other sports more fun not all sports need the motor skills that school sports do like sailing or air gun shooting although the require older children i suggest do fun races until old enough to do other sports
|
Elen
03/10/2003
| Sports day
Message:
I hate sports days but i try to make an effort what annoyes me is that people dont see that, all they see is me sliding down the track while doing the long jump (ooops) I try things in the sports day and am proud of achieving new things even if i do trip up im still on the track unlike those lazy people in the stands! Ok so im not sporty but im good at other things.
When i was in year 7 someone put me down for the 800m 1500m and the hurdles + high jump so i didnt go they obviously found it funny but how would they feel if i put them down for the maths quiz? People can be really horrible i always used to get the blaim for my house coming last but i know it wasnt my fault. Im proud of what i can do and if i can jump 2cm more in the long jump next year its still an improvement. Im not dyspraxic im just not very good at sports. Im not lazy either i do try my best.
So i say to u all so long as u can walk up the stairs without getting out of breath don't worry. Try new things(with people u r comfortable with) I swim and although i cant swim as fast as everyone else and I havent exactly got the technique i can get quite far!
|
chris connaughton
19/11/2003
| RE: testing
Message:
My name is Chris and i am a student at St Martins College Lanacaster. I'm in my final year and doing a study on "If children enjoy participating in sports day" i am open to all answers from parents and schools around the country. Any personal views and feeling may be expressed and i look forward to visiting this site again for your replies. Thanks chris
|
Jan
20/11/2003
| RE: testing
Message:
Chris
Well done for being interested in making pe an enjoyable inclusive event for everyone, whatever their ability. The thing that makes me fume is that all too often at my sons' school they are forced to join in things that are just not suitable for their level of ability. For example, my son with talipes was required to run around the playground in his plimsolls only, when he normally wears splints, on both feet, and knee braces, and has been made to take them off and his adaptive footwear to do it - madness! Sponsored sporting events that are invariably frenetic, when a child falls easily, and there is no alternative activity open to students who are vulnerable. Teachers often make the mistake of thinking that inclusion means getting a disabled child to do the SAME as everybody else, with no recognition of the fact that just sometimes they need to NOT join in, or that there is a need to run activities alongside each other, some of which are suitable for ALL students in the class.
Rant over
Jan
|
michelle
09/5/2004
| RE: testing
Message:
HI everyone! I'm fourteen, and I really enjoy running. I can see why people who are dyspraxic don't have as much fun though. My cousin has it and gets picked on sometimes. He's a great kid, though, and really good at other things, so anyone out there who finds it tricky, just keep positive and have fun, even if it's not your strongest event!
|
Barbara
26/4/2006
| RE: testing
Message:
OK, First, I wish i could express in words how "happy?" it makes me to be able to talk to someone..ANYONE that has an understanding of how much a Dyspraxic child struggles. I have not had to deal so much with sports issues (my son just tries and then usually quits)but my problem is dealing with a school system that doesn't understand Dyspraxia and does not seem to want to. They accuse my son of just being Lazy and reprimand him for it. They give him detention for forgetting an assignment or forgetting how to DO an assignment. By the way my son is an emotionally young 10 year old. I have been battling with the school system for the last 2 years but they refuse to give my child the accomodations needed IN class so that he can function smoothly. I am at my wits end, it's a terrible feeling to know that your child is struggling and noone that can help cares. Any thoughts?
Thanks for listening, Good luck to all of you,
Barbara
|
Anon
28/4/2006
| RE: testing
Message:
Have you spoken to IPSEA or the Advisory Centre for Education to see if they have any ideas. You may have a local Parent Partnership person available to attend mmetings with your childs SENCO to back you up. Have you thought of joining the board of school governers? Are other parents having the same problems - could you meet up to brain storm how to apply a pressure to the school? Perhaps your local MP could point you in the direction of someone who can help?
Hope things improve and keep up the good fight!
Best Wishes
|
Rik
02/8/2006
| RE: testing
Message:
I am dyspraxic and I do find sports difficult. However,I did win the three legged race when I was eight. That gave me a great sense of achievement.
I see things in schools have not changed much since I was there. I was always last to be picked for hockey.
|
