But first, an explanation of spatial concepts is in order. Spatial awareness difficulties will not go away with time, though your child can certainly learn to adapt and cope.ĭo the two scenarios with Adam and Emily remind you of your own child? If so, you’ll need to take a proactive approach to getting some help. That means the difficulty is not something to take lightly or ignore. Such difficulties sometimes suggest a broader issue that must be dealt with, such as, for instance, dyscalculia (a type of dyslexia with numbers and math instead of words and reading) or autism. Any of us might have trouble figuring it out: is this hat floating or resting on a surface? A child with spatial awareness difficulties may have trouble understanding, even in the best case scenario, where an object lies in relation to space. Can you please put your hat on the hat stand where it belongs?”Įmily may understand the words “hamper” and “hat stand” but she doesn’t understand “on” or “top.” These are key directional words that may have no meaning for a child having difficulties with spatial concepts. For example, you might say, “Emily, you left your hat on top of the clothes hamper again. You can see a child is having spatial awareness difficulties when you direct that child to do something and are met with a blank stare and inaction. He may look around (or up and down-or even just stand stock still) in dismay, as the realization comes that once again, he will get hurt for reasons he just doesn’t understand.
If Adam fails to understand “from behind” he won’t know how to position himself in order to avoid a collision with Jaden. That is what Adam needs to understand in order to quickly get to safety. Parents may first notice the problem when warning a child of approaching danger: “Adam, watch out! Jaden is about to bump into you with his tricycle from behind!”Īs a parent, you want Adam to have an instant understanding of where Jaden’s trike is in relation to his body and within the space occupied by the two boys. Some kids simply learn these ideas later than others. So a difficulty in understanding spatial concepts isn’t uncommon.
It’s natural for children to learn concepts in their own sweet time. Such children have trouble with simple concepts like up, down, on, under, in, out, behind, and in front. But for some children, the understanding of the self and the relationship between objects within a given space is difficult. They acquire this knowledge with no apparent difficulty. Spatial concepts are complex unconscious thinking skills that most children master at an early age. Does your child tend to bump into things? Does she seem to have a poor sense of where her body ends and the wall begins? She may have spatial awareness difficulties.
Seek professional help, when needed, from your pediatrician or another expert in child behavior.Spatial awareness difficulties: that’s the fancy name for someone, say a kid, who doesn’t seem to know whether she’s coming or going.Find a way to get some relief for yourself and your child by scheduling some time apart.Accept the possibility that this may be a difficult day or circumstance, and be prepared to make the best of it. Anticipate impending high-risk situations, and try to avoid or minimize them.Think how you might need to adjust yourself a bit to encourage a better fit with your child. Consider your own temperament and behavior, and how they might also be difficult.Are they realistic and appropriate? When your youngster does something right, praise him and reinforce the specific behaviors that you like. Review your expectations of your child, your preferences and your values.Others are not as relevant and can be either ignored or put "way down the list." Some are more important and deserve greater attention. Try to prioritize the issues and problems surrounding your child.