In children with developmental coordination disorder, what should be rewarded rather than skill?

• A. Effort
• B. Speed
• C. Accuracy
• D. Endurance

Answer: (A)

Rewarding effort rather than the finished skill encourages the behaviors that actually support motor learning in children with developmental coordination disorder. These kids often show uneven, slow progress as they practice new movements, so linking praise to how hard they try, the strategies they use, and their persistence helps sustain motivation and practice. When you reward effort, you foster a growth mindset and build self-efficacy, making them more willing to continue trying, adjust strategies, and gradually improve even if outcomes aren’t perfect yet. Focusing on speed or accuracy frequently emphasizes the end result, which can create anxiety or discourage effortful practice in this population. Endurance is related but not as directly tied to motor skill acquisition in the context of initial learning as effort-based encouragement.