When I was a kid, I played and participated in sports non-stop. I ran, played tennis, hide & seek, tag, soccer, basketball, ice hockey, climbed trees, football, baseball, biked, skateboarded, roller skated (there were no rollerblades in the 70’s and 80’s) and would participate in almost any thing, any place, any time. Having an outlet for kids is so important and for kids with ADD, it is required.
As recently written by Madeline Vann………”Youth sports are a staple in many communities. They are a fun, safe way for children to be active and involved with their friends and family and to learn values of good sportsmanship. Yet for children with ADHD and their parents, navigating sports participation can be intimidating. However, with the right attitude, managing ADHD and sports participation can both be attainable goals.
“I’ve encouraged patients to use exercise as a treatment for ADHD for years,” says psychiatrist Joe Strayhorn, MD, adjunct associate professor of psychiatry with both Drexel University College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh. “Several articles confirmed the intuitively expected idea that children who are restless and fidgety become less so, at least for a while, when they are allowed or encouraged to do a right amount of aerobic activity.”
Behavior of children with ADHD can improve with at least 40 minutes of activity a day. Some families report that sports help their children with ADHD sleep better and have fewer outbursts or meltdowns. Sports participation can also help your child meet the national recommendation to get about 60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week.”
To read the full article, please click here EveryDayHealth.com
