Interventions for children with developmental coordination disorder: a scoping review
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2026
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WILEY
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Jelsma, D., Svoboda, Z., Abdollahipour, R., Palomo Nieto, M., Villa-de Gregorio, M., Banatova, K., Ghadiri, F., Alaei, F., Violasdotter Nilson, P., & Green, D. (2026). Interventions for children with developmental coordination disorder: A scoping review. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.
Abstract
Aim: To identify, qualify, and synthesize the characteristics of interventions for children with diagnosed and suspected developmental coordination disorder (DCD) worldwide.
Method: This was a scoping review, with searches in eight bibliographical databases without language restrictions. All interventions involving children and adolescents with motor coordination disorders were included, with content analyses involving the type and context of the intervention and interventionists, the outcomes addressed, and the findings reported and considered regarding the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework.
Results: From 30 637 hits, 202 distinct studies were identified, including 206 interventions with a total of 4593 children or adolescents. The children included were often poorly defined. Movement activities were offered through task-oriented, motor skill, and sports training approaches with active video games and sensory-perceptual motor skills training reported the most frequently. Long-term psychosocial and participation outcomes were less explored.
Interpretation: Future intervention studies need to be clearer on the diagnostic criteria and details of DCD, including individual(s) who delivered the training, the type of training, session intensity, and the delivery mode. Outcome measures should consider three critical domains: (1) practical application of learned motor skills in daily life; (2) environmental and psychosocial impacts; and (3) parental awareness and support.
What this paper adds
• Thirteen categories of interventions were identified ranging from task-oriented, motor skills training and sensorimotor approaches to sports training approaches.
• Most studies reported motor performance (acquiring and executing motor skills in daily activities) as an outcome measure.
• Interventions delivered in small or large groups or 1:1 showed similar reported improvements across differing contexts.
• Long-term psychosocial outcomes and sustained participation benefits remain less explored.
Description
Completion of this study and manuscript was supported by funding from the Czech Science Foundation (GACR EXPRO no. 21-15728X).
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