Clumsy kids ‘have poorer maths and reading skills’

CLUMSINESS in children is linked to poorer reading, writing and maths skills, research has shown.

Pupils in the study with good coordination were months ahead of their peers in these skills, which are thought to use the same brain circuits as spatial awareness.

Researchers at Leeds University tested more than 300 children aged four to 11 with a series of computer tasks.

Children who were good at a steering exercise were almost ten months ahead of their peers in reading and writing, and eight months ahead in maths.

Those able to aim and intercept well were five months ahead in maths, according to the study published in the journal Psychological Science.

Research supervisor Professor Mark Mon-Williams, of Leeds University, said the study ‘raises the question of whether schools should be identifying those children who are seen as clumsy or not so well-coordinated and giving them extra support’.