28/05/2026
Motor planning (also called praxis) is important in children with autism because it helps a child think of an action, organize the body, and carry it out smoothly.
It’s not just about movement—it affects play, learning, communication, independence, and behaviour.
Children with autism may sometimes have challenges with motor planning, although not every autistic child does.
Some examples:
Daily activities: getting dressed, brushing teeth, using spoon/fork, opening containers
Play skills: climbing, catching a ball, copying actions, using toys in different ways
School tasks: sitting and organizing materials, handwriting, cutting, PE activities
Social interaction: joining games, imitating peers, gestures, body language
Communication: coordinating mouth, breath, and movement for speech can overlap for some children
Transitions & behaviour: when movement sequences feel difficult, a child may avoid, delay, get frustrated, appear “non-compliant,” or become dysregulated
You might notice signs like:
🔹Needs repeated demonstrations
🔹Knows what to do but body doesn’t seem to follow
🔹Difficulty learning new movements
🔹Clumsy or slow to start actions
🔹Avoids playground equipment
🔹Trouble sequencing steps (“first shoes, then bag, then door”)
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