More and more children have difficulty writing and even cutting, pasting or coloring a drawing is often no longer automatic. Where child physiotherapists were previously mainly engaged after a fall to treat a sprained ankle, for example, their waiting rooms are now full of children who simply do not come along in their motor development. Children’s physiotherapists raise the alarm: “My agenda is packed!”
“Bags, bags, bags and up again,” instructs child physiotherapist Isabelle Kranenburg the 9-year-old Mike from Zundert. Mike has to put a lot of effort into the exercise, where he has to sit on a bench without using his hands. “This is difficult and stupid,” says the boy who also walks around proudly, cheerfully and with pleasure in his new NAC kit.
Because Mike is a nice and cheerful guy. He is one of the many children with motor problems that Isabelle treats. Something that, according to various studies, is becoming increasingly common. “My agenda is really packed,” she says.
Mike’s problem is that he walks in with his feet, so he often stumbles. He also has difficulty writing. During therapy he does muscle and balance exercises, but also writing exercises. “Sometimes difficult, sometimes easy. But it makes my muscles stronger,” he says soberly. “And that is exactly what we want,” laughs Isabelle. “We turn it into games, because putting a child on a fitness device does not work. If it stays fun, they will be happy to practice and get confidence.”
“Children increasingly have difficulty with their balance or they are stumbling quickly,” continues the child physiotherapist. “But also writing, coloring and cutting is often difficult. And more and more it is about stimulus processing: how do you deal with crowds or sound? It leads to underperforming.” “This is also apparent from studies by, among others The Haagse Hogeschool and the scientific Research agency Mulier Institute.
How is that? According to Isabelle it is a mix of factors. “Classes are larger, so there is less personal attention. At home, less is crafted and more often an iPad is caught. And children simply play less outside. During Corona, Sport and Gym also disappeared. Then you miss a lot of moments when you normally develop motor skills.”
And according to the physiotherapist such a backlog in motor development has consequences: “If you are always chosen as the last one at Gym or you cannot come along with sports, you will avoid that. Children drop out, get less pleasure in moving and become uncertain. This is how you end up in a vicious circle.”
“This one is easy!” Mike crows with joy and he beats a bell. He thus therapist Isabelle. They play a game in which he has to put rubber bands around his fingers very quickly. It helps to improve writing skills.
“The child physiotherapist is often seen as someone who helps you after an injury,” says Isabelle. “But that image is no longer correct, because we are doing much more. From fine motor skills, such as writing and cutting, to stimulus processing. Some children simply cannot concentrate because they quickly get over stimulated. With some extra guidance you can help those children enormously.”
“Let children run again, climb, fall and get up.”
Why is this so important? “Because you can prevent problems at a young age that will become much larger later,” Isabelle explains. “If children learn to have fun moving, the chance is smaller that they will later suffer overweight, physical complaints or get difficulty learning. It is really investing in their future.”
Her advice to parents is clear: “Let children play outside again. Running, climbing, falling and error: Van Moving has never made anyone worse. And if it doesn’t happen automatically, then child physiotherapy is there to help.”
The session for today is almost over. But as a NAC fan, Mike wants to know one thing from Isabelle. For which club is she actually? “For Ajax !? well, then I’m gone. Bye!”
The Dutch Association for Child Physiotherapists (NVFK) sees that more and more children are coming to a physiotherapist. In primary care practice, that is care where you can go without reference. This concerns children who used to end up in rehabilitation or special education.
A ‘beautiful’ development, says a spokesperson on behalf of the NVFK: “For we want to keep care close to the child.” She notes that the current financing of physiotherapists in the first line is inadequate: “We have been committed to this as an NVFK for a long time.”
