7 Fun Coordination Exercises For Kids: Approved by Therapists & Educators

Coordination exercises for kids are a fun and effective way of improving balance and motor skills. They are especially helpful for children with Motor Delay, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Auditory Processing Disorders (APD).

This article will tell you all you need to know about the different types of coordination. It explains why improving coordination will help make a positive impact on your child physically, emotionally and socially.

We’ll cover the top 7 coordination exercises for kids as well as some helpful tips on how to make the exercises more or less challenging depending on your child’s ability.  Every exercise in the list can be completed in the comfort of your home and requires minimal or often no equipment. 

The patented Soundsory®  program is the perfect companion and can optimize the improvements you gain through music and movement. 

“For me, Soundsory® really gets at that foundational motor system…so that it starts working better.”

Kara Tavolacci, Occupational Therapist

Understanding Coordination in Children with Autism, APD or ADHD

Coordination is the ability to perform a movement in a way that’s smooth, accurate and controlled. Reduced coordination means a movement can be too big or small, lacks accuracy or control. Having impaired coordination makes tasks harder to complete.

Coordination is a marker for child development, and is especially important in children with autism, ADHD or APD. It is common [1] for children with these conditions to have reduced coordination which can have a huge impact [2] on their lives and their family’s.

Three main types of coordination

1-    Hand-eye coordination: This is the ability to coordinate movements between your hand and eyes and includes the child’s oculomotor control. Ocular motor skills are how you use the muscles in your eyes to scan and locate an object in your field of vision.

2-   Gross motor function: The movement and coordination of large body parts such as arms, legs and torso.

3-   Fine motor function: Smaller and more detailed movements of the hands and feet.  Tasks include fastening buttons, picking up small objects, and using a pen or cutlery.

Coordination milestones by age

Coordination generally improves with age and there are typical milestones for this development.

However, children with autism [3], APD [4] or ADHD [5] are often shown to be slower to reach these milestones.

Here are some examples of development in children without these conditions:

Age Range	Typical Milestone Activities
Newborn to 1 year	First 3 months: The child begins to track objects with their eyes and bring their hands together in midline. 3-9 months: The baby will begin to roll, crawl, and pass objects between their hands. They may be pulling themselves up to stand at this age. 9-12 months: The child will begin standing alone, some may have taken their first steps, and they will begin using a pincer grip (thumb to finger)
1 to 3 years	Beginning to walk / Beginning to run / Throw/catch / Scribble with a crayon
3-5 years	Can dress themselves / Hop on leg
5-10 years	Using scissors / Riding a bike / Writing legibly / Catching a small ball

Developing coordination requires a combination of motor control, balance, spatial orientation, vision and attention to the task.

Therefore, these milestones can be harder to achieve in children with autism, APD or ADHD.

Signs that your child may be struggling to develop their coordination

–      Frequent loss of balance. Your child may fall or trip more frequently. You may notice this when they are performing daily tasks like getting dressed.

–      Moving too quickly or slowly. You may notice a stiffness in their movement, or the movements may seem very effortful for your child.

–     Excessive tiredness. If your child’s movements aren’t smooth or coordinated it means they will use more energy completing tasks. This means they may get tired quicker.

–      Avoiding physical activity. Your child may be aware of their difficulties and wish to avoid playgrounds and physical activities.

–      Not achieving developmental milestones within a few months of the typical time frames mentioned above.  It’s important to remember that all children progress at a different pace but these are typical for children of those ages.

Thankfully, there are many exercises which can help your child’s development by working on their hand-eye coordination, gross motor and fine motor function. We’ll go into these in more detail below.

The Soundsory® program can also help with improving balance and coordination. It can be used alongside Occupational Therapy Activities to complement and optimize their approaches. 

Soundsory® is a listening and movement program which aims to strengthen your sensory integration and cognitive functions.

Benefits of Coordination Exercises for Kids with Autism, APD or ADHD

Improving a child’s coordination can have a significant positive impact on their lives.  By improving their balance and agility they can move with more independence. Improving their fine motor skills enables them to perform daily tasks such as fastening buttons, using cutlery and using a crayon or pen.

Engaging in these tasks helps the child’s focus and concentration and they can take more enjoyment from their activities. Not to mention the confidence they will take from being able to learn new skills and interact with their friends in more fun and diverse ways.

Another important reason is safety. 

Every parent wants to keep their child safe from harm and improving coordination can help reduce accidents and injuries.

Now, let’s move on to our list of coordination exercises that anyone can do with little or no equipment.

Each exercise should be challenging but achievable for your child and most importantly FUN! [6]

“I make sure my exercises target at least one, if not all aspects of the child’s coordination. We always try to make it fun and give lots of praise.”

Colin Palmer, Pediatric Physical Therapist (UK).

Top 7 Coordination Exercises for Kids with Autism, APD or ADHD

In this section we’ll tell you all about the best coordination exercises for kids. 

We’ve included three different versions of each exercise. 

These include: 

• • An original version which is ideally how the exercises should be completed. 

• • A modified version for children who are ready for a greater challenge.  

• • A simplified version for children who may struggle to complete the original version. 

1. Finger to Nose (1-3 years old)

This exercise helps with fine motor control and proprioception, as well as hand-eye coordination.

Original: Have your child sit on a stable surface. Ask them to reach their arms wide and then touch their nose with alternating fingertips.

Modified: For a greater challenge your child could complete the movement in standing position or even on one leg.

Simplified: Ask your child to concentrate on only one side or they could use their whole hand rather than their fingertip. You could join in with your child to give them a helpful demonstration.

https://youtu.be/lT_sJ1XTUJQ?si=pWPiDiDzE1CDgpaK

2. Silly Crawls (1-3 years old)

Ideal for enhancing functional movement and coordination. This exercise pairs perfectly with the Soundsory® headset for even better results. 

Original: Begin with your child kneeling on all fours.  Ask them to crawl forwards, then turn and crawl back again.

Modified: Challenge your child by asking them to slow down or speed up the motion. For a real challenge ask them to balance a small item on their back as they crawl.

Simplified: For some children being able to get into and maintain a four point kneeling position is enough of a challenge.  This is still great for their coordination and core strength.

https://youtu.be/7HI3aN7GNys?si=nkiZBTL31ZO1B8xJ

3. Sledding (3-5 years old)

This one focuses on gross motor movement patterns and coordination on the ground. A great exercise for improving core strength.

Original: Your child begins on their knees then reaches forwards to place their weight onto their hands. Ask your child to lean on to their hands and slide their knees forwards. Repeat the movement to slide forwards along the floor.

Modified: To increase the challenge you could ask your child to keep looking at a particular target as they move.  This increases the difficulty for their vision and proprioception.

Simplified: Ask your child to kneel and move from kneeling to all fours and back again. You can assist your child by supporting their trunk if they need the extra stability.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMmaPA0cPC8&list=PLq50V9RgITu8E5f5Rh6MCeXXRn14dhhSF&index=5

4. Hopping in Place (3-5 years old)

This exercise is lots of fun and helps develop coordination, balance and leg strength.

Original: Ask your child to stand on one leg and begin hopping. 

Modified: Challenge your child to hop in a direction. E.g. 3 hops forwards, sideways, then backwards.

Simplified: If hopping is too difficult, ask your child to jump using both legs and gradually introduce the challenge of using one leg when they seem ready.

https://youtu.be/jZKskDyMelI?si=sh37hN1LDPT3J28c

5. Scissor Fingers (Ages 6+)

Perfect for improving fine motor skills and sensory integration. 

Original: Ask your child to follow the finger patterns demonstrated on the video below. 

Modified: Your child could try it with their non-dominant hand or increase the speed they perform the movements. 

Simplified: Choose only one of the movements, and practice that. You could assist your child by placing your hands on theirs to give them the correct feeling of completing the movement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYTEEmyj-CI&list=PLq50V9RgITu8E5f5Rh6MCeXXRn14dhhSF&index=29

6. Crazy Claps (Ages 6+)

Ideal for developing balance and limb coordination. A fun way to challenge coordination and sensory processing.

Original: Ask your child to stand on one leg. Once balanced, ask them to raise their hands above their heads and clap them together. 

Modified: For a greater challenge, ask your child to perform the movement with their eyes closed.

Simplified: Encourage your child to stand on one leg and if possible just to raise their arms as much as they can manage.

https://youtu.be/sKKx7zof0io?si=aeg3NiiYPaWt4Eu_

7. Jumping Thumbs (Ages 6+)

Perfect for hand dexterity and fine motor function.  This exercise helps to develop your child’s ability to perform daily activities. Performing movements in a sequence can be challenging [7] for children with autism, APD, or ADHD. 

Original: Ask your child to touch their thumb to each of their fingertips in order.

Modified: For an added challenge ask them to complete the movements on both hands at the same time.

Simplified: Your child can slow down the movement or just focus on one finger until their coordination improves.

https://youtu.be/1ZA7oMH4msA?si=HPzo-vd17z_b0NkY

You can also download the FREE Soundsory® movement exercises app for Apple or Android.

Tips for Parents and Educators of Children with Autism, APD or ADHD

Here are some suggestions from Emma Williams, Early Years Educator (UK), to help parents, carers and educators:

• • When starting an activity use your child’s name and maybe touch their arm to capture their attention. Positive, warm eye contact helps keep your child engaged.

• • Keep instructions simple and use plenty of demonstrations.

• • Let your child choose the exercise. Give them plenty of exposure to the different activities and see if they naturally have a favorite.

• • If your child expresses themselves through expressions and noises, then mirror those noises to communicate on their level.

• • Manage your own expectations. Progress can be slow and can require patience and resilience. Keep looking for small signs of progress rather than huge milestones.

• • Avoid overstimulation. Keep the environment free from distractions and turn off televisions.

• •  If your child has a transition object, then try to incorporate it into the activities.

• • Remember that every child is unique and will have their own preferences

Summary: Top 10 fun Coordination Exercises for Children with Autism, APD or ADHD

In this article we’ve looked at the top 10 coordination exercises for kids with autism, APD or ADHD, such as Simon Says, and the three main types of coordination: hand-eye coordination, gross and fine motor functions.

By improving your child’s coordination, you are enriching your child’s life in many ways. Including building their independence, growing their confidence and sense of self, and increasing their opportunities to socialize.

Children with autism, APD and ADHD tend to work best when things are predictable and familiar. So, try fitting these exercises into your child’s daily routine and work together with your child to find out their own individual preferences.

Soundsory®  offers a whole range of free resources to help you learn more about fine motor activities, gross motor activities for preschoolers, and balance activities for kids. All of our blogs were written by health professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

FAQs : Best Coordination Exercises for Children with Autism, APD or ADHD

How to improve a child’s coordination?

Engaging activities are key to improving your child’s coordination. Choose from the list of exercises above and practice with patience. Keep to a good routine and above all, keep it fun.

When trying to improve your child’s coordination keep in mind the different types of coordination and how they each play a role in helping your child become more engaged, independent, and safe.

Is poor coordination ADHD ?

No, if your child has poor coordination, that does not necessarily mean they have ADHD. There are many factors which can determine how much or how quickly a child’s coordination develops. The milestones described above can be used as a guide but if you have any concerns then you should speak with your doctor or health professional.

How to improve coordination in autism?

Children with autism can have reduced coordination. You can improve this by practicing coordination exercises which are appropriate for their level of ability. Development takes time and patience as it happens through the nervous system’s ability to change, called neuroplasticity.

This list of coordination exercises for children is a great place to start and the Soundsory® Program has been designed to complement traditional exercises and therapy.

This FREE webinar introduces the Soundsory® system and explains how it can be used:

 🎥 Webinar – Introduction to Soundsory and its applications

References 

1. 1. Norouzi, E., Hossieni, F., & Solymani, M. (2018). Effects of Neurofeedback Training on Performing Bimanual Coordination In-phase and Anti-phase Patterns in Children with ADHD. Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback, 43(4), 283–292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-018-9408-2

2. 2. Klassen, A. F., Miller, A., & Fine, S. (2004). Health-related quality of life in children and adolescents who have a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatrics, 114(5), e541–e547. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2004-0844

3. 3. Miller, M., Chukoskie, L., Zinni, M., Townsend, J., & Trauner, D. (2014). Dyspraxia, motor function and visual-motor integration in autism. Behavioural brain research, 269, 95–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2014.04.011

4. 4. Alanazi A. A. (2023). Understanding Auditory Processing Disorder: A Narrative Review. Saudi journal of medicine & medical sciences, 11(4), 275–282. https://doi.org/10.4103/sjmms.sjmms_218_23

5. 5. Larson, K., Russ, S. A., Kahn, R. S., & Halfon, N. (2011). Patterns of comorbidity, functioning, and service use for US children with ADHD, 2007. Pediatrics, 127(3), 462–470. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-0165

6. 6. Fiss, A. L., Håkstad, R. B., Looper, J., Pereira, S. A., Sargent, B., Silveira, J., Willett, S., & Dusing, S. C. (2023). Embedding Play to Enrich Physical Therapy. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 13(6), 440. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13060440

6. 6. Bäckström, A., Johansson, A. M., Rudolfsson, T., Rönnqvist, L., von Hofsten, C., Rosander, K., & Domellöf, E. (2021). Motor planning and movement execution during goal-directed sequential manual movements in 6-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder: A kinematic analysis. Research in developmental disabilities, 115, 104014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104014