What if my child does not see the point of practising coordination? 

Parenting Perspective 

Children often ask ‘Why?’ when faced with tasks that feel repetitive or difficult. Practising coordination can seem pointless to them because they do not yet connect small skills with bigger abilities. To a child, balancing on one foot or catching a ball feels like an isolated exercise. To a parent, it is preparation for confidence, safety, and independence. The challenge is to bridge that gap without turning practice into pressure. 

Making It Playful, Not Forced 

If a child sees coordination drills as chores, their resistance grows. Instead of saying, “You must practise balancing,” parents should weave coordination into fun games. For example, set up a stepping-stone path with cushions, or challenge them to carry a spoon with a small ball across the room. Games transform repetition into discovery, and children learn best when their bodies are engaged in joyful exploration. 

Connecting to Real-Life Benefits 

Children respond to reasons that feel real in their world. You can say, “Practising balance helps you climb stairs without holding the railing,” or “Catching a ball now means one day you can play cricket with friends more easily.” Linking practice to things they value, such as joining play with peers, helps them see coordination as a beneficial tool rather than a burden. 

Praising Effort and Progress 

Sometimes children stop trying not because they dislike the skill, but because they feel they are failing. Highlighting small improvements shows them the purpose of practice. You might say, “Yesterday you caught the ball twice, today you caught it four times. That is double the progress.” When progress is visible, motivation follows naturally. 

Letting Them Choose the Form of Practice 

Offer options so the child feels ownership. If you suggest skipping, throwing, or balancing, and allow them to choose which to try, they feel less forced and more invested. Autonomy is a powerful motivator, and when children feel involved in the decision, they are more likely to engage with the practice. 

By making practice playful, connecting it to real-life goals, and celebrating small wins, parents can gently guide children to see that coordination is not just about drills. It is about building the confidence and independence that will serve them far beyond the playground. 

Spiritual Insight 

The Quran often connects effort with long-term reward, showing that what feels small today prepares us for greater responsibilities tomorrow. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Az Zilzal (99), Verse 7: 

‘So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it… 

This verse reassures us that no effort is wasted, no matter how small it seems. For a child, this can be explained as: “Every time you practise, even if it feels tiny, it is adding to your strength, and Allah Almighty will show you the result one day.” The ayah teaches that small acts accumulate into meaningful outcomes, just as repeated practice builds the skills that make coordination easier. What feels like a little today prepares the foundation for tomorrow’s bigger achievements. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 6464, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if they are small.’ 

This Hadith teaches children that steady, small efforts are highly valuable. Parents can connect this wisdom to coordination practice by saying, “When you keep trying, even for a few minutes each day, Allah Almighty loves that effort, and it makes you stronger step by step.” Linking practice to faith transforms it from a pointless exercise into an act of growth loved by Allah Almighty. 

Spiritual teaching and parenting wisdom come together here: repetition matters. What a child cannot yet see is that the countless small moments of practice become the grace of future confidence. When they realise that every effort counts, both in this world and in the sight of Allah Almighty, practice gains purpose and meaning. With your encouragement and gentle reminders, they can learn that consistency builds both coordination and character.