[tempus vernum]

If shoe tying is an issue at 9, that is an ENORMOUS RED FLAG for midline!!!!! HUGE HUGE HUGEunless you never tried teaching and it's been no tie or velcro. If he cannot learn to tie shoes within an hour of instruction at 9 that is more than likely a midline issue.

Can he skip? Does he hang off one side of the chair? how is his handwriting? <--- those are other issues specific to midline. usually shoe tying is most obvious because we think "it's just skipping or bad posture or sloppy handwriting" Midline can be funny. Through my ds' treatment, I realized my eldest had midline/dysgraphia issues even though her only two signs were hanging off the chair and sloppy handwriting. SHe's never ever been behind in school but has always had focus issues so that's what I attributed her cooperation struggles. Once we fixed it up her midline, her academic progress soared. She was much less distractible, organized and not reluctant. She could even write and fix her dysgraphia if she used lined paper

Midline issues do not only affect motor skills but affect the transfer of information AS WELL AS executive function.

Picky eating can also be a brain issue.

I don't mean to be a "one issue preacher" but I really really wish someone had told me these things It was really hard to not realize and feel frustrated. Our son couldn't tie shoes, couldn't skip and couldn't sit straight on a chair. He had no focus problems but had learning issues that "masked" his midline until an OT picked it up during an evaluation. Within weeks of starting brain integration therapy, he was skipping and tying his shoes and many many things improved rapidly, including cooperation.

All that said if it's perfectionism, it could be anxiety related as well.

Structure is DEFINITELY something that helps all my kids, especially the one with the most significant brain issues. We are "delight driven" homeshoolers with a lot of structure because without structure we have chaos.