What Is Motor Planning, and How Does It Affect My Toddler's Speech?

Motor planning is something we adults often take for granted. We don't have to consciously think when we're drinking from our coffee mug in the morning. Our sensory system and motor planning for that task are on auto pilot, and that is because of the many, many repetitions we have done.

Toddlers, on the other hand, are still learning how to make those processes automatic. Once toddlers start walking and running, I think parents often start focusing on other areas of development, figuring that the next level of motor skills will come naturally. I have learned, however, that this is not the case for all kids. Some struggle with skills that can be overlooked by the untrained eye, and those skills provide the foundation for other important motor tasks, including speech.

So what I want you to know is this: yes, motor planning can affect your toddler's speech. Talking is a motor skill. To say a word, your child's brain has to plan and coordinate lots of tiny movements of the lips, tongue and jaw. A child who struggles to plan new movements with their body may also find it harder to plan the movements for words.

What Motor Planning Is

Let's start by looking at what motor planning actually is. Motor planning is the ability to come up with an idea for a new movement, plan how to do it, and then carry it out. Think of it in three steps:

• Idea: "I want to climb up that slide."
• Plan: "I need to put my hands here and my foot there."
• Do: Actually climbing up, step by step.

The first few times we do something new, our brain has to work hard at each step. With practice and repetition, the movement becomes automatic, just like that sip of coffee.

Some signs that a toddler may be struggling with motor planning include:

• Having a hard time with new movement tasks, like climbing playground equipment or figuring out a new toy
• Seeming clumsy or bumping into things often
• Preferring the same familiar activities and avoiding new ones
• Having a hard time imitating actions, like the hand motions in songs
• Having a hard time imitating sounds and words

The Sensory System and Motor Planning

It's equally important to understand our children's unique wiring (how they experience the world), because it can help us identify the best way to teach them. Motor planning depends on the sensory system. Our vestibular sense (balance and motion) and proprioceptive sense (input to our muscles and joints) tell our brain where our body is in space, and our brain uses that information to plan movements. When a child's sensory system isn't giving them clear information, planning new movements gets harder. I talk more about these two senses in my post on the sensory system.

It can also affect behavior. A child who struggles with motor planning may avoid new activities, get frustrated quickly or seem "stubborn" when really, the task just feels hard. Knowing this can help us respond with patience instead of frustration.

Strategies: How to Help a Toddler With Motor Planning

So let's talk about what you can do. Here are some simple strategies you can incorporate into daily routines and playtime to help build your toddler's motor planning.

• Break new tasks into small steps. Show one step at a time, and give your child time to try each one before adding the next.
• Repeat, repeat, repeat. Repetition is how movements become automatic. Doing the same activity over and over is a good thing!
• Model slowly. Show your child how to do a movement slowly and clearly so they can watch and copy.
• Build obstacle courses. Crawling under a table, climbing over pillows and stepping into a laundry basket give your child lots of practice planning new movements.
• Use action songs. Songs with simple hand motions build imitation and motor planning at the same time. Here is one of my favorite songs to get toddlers imitating: https://youtu.be/o20O6vIglGg
• Give a little help, then step back. Gently guide your child's hands or body through a new movement, then give them a chance to try it on their own.

I go more in depth on this topic in my YouTube video. You can watch it here.

Want to know if your toddler is on track? Download my free Speech Milestones Checklist.

If you have concerns about your child's speech or development, reach out to your local early intervention program for support. If your child has a lot of trouble planning the movements for speech, a speech-language pathologist can evaluate them.

The Bottom Line

Motor planning is the ability to come up with, plan and carry out a new movement, and because talking is a motor skill, it can affect how easily your toddler learns to say words. Your child's sensory system feeds motor planning, so kids who struggle may avoid new activities or get frustrated quickly. Breaking tasks into small steps, lots of repetition and playful practice like obstacle courses and action songs can help. With practice, time and patience, those new movements will become automatic, and THAT is how we build the motivation for them to keep trying.

Quick Answers

What is motor planning in toddlers? Motor planning is the ability to come up with an idea for a new movement, plan it and carry it out. With repetition, movements become automatic.

Can motor planning affect speech? Yes. Talking is a motor skill that requires planning lots of small movements of the lips, tongue and jaw, so a child who struggles with motor planning may find it harder to say words.

How can I help my toddler with motor planning at home? Break new tasks into small steps, model slowly, repeat activities often, and use playful practice like obstacle courses and action songs.

All my best, Jill

Jill Urbane, LCSW, is an early childhood interventionist with nearly three decades of experience working in the homes of families with young children.