In a bottom-up approach in kids with DCD, what would we focus on?

• A. Focus on underlying problems
• B. Kinesthetic training, perceptual-motor training, sensory/sensory motor integrative therapy
• C. Task-oriented approach with motor learning
• D. Cognitive strategies

Answer: (B)

Bottom-up approaches build the movement from the ground up by retraining the body’s sensorimotor foundations before focusing on whole-task performance. For kids with DCD, this means emphasizing kinesthetic training to sharpen body awareness and proprioception, using perceptual-motor exercises that pair sensory input with motor planning, and addressing sensory integration to help the nervous system organize information for smoother movement. By strengthening these underlying processes, coordination improves, making later task-based practice more effective. In contrast, strategies that focus mainly on performing tasks or using cognitive shortcuts without addressing the foundational sensorimotor systems tend to be less effective in establishing lasting motor gains.