Children with ADHD can benefit from physical activity to help channel their energy. There has been a lot of attention paid to the disorder and the kinds of therapeutic outlets that can be used to dissipate anxiety while providing enjoyment and just plain fun.
These children often face so many misunderstandings and setbacks due to lack of knowledge of their condition or lack of caring about it. Getting them involved in something they like is a refreshing change and a healthy path to personal development.
Camping and outdoor activities
There is nothing more refreshing or healthier than a simple outdoor walk around the block or a walk in the woods. The beauty of trees, gardens, and landscapes can have both a calming and exhilarating effect on children – and on adults, too.
Children who love walking and running can look into school track and field sports. They can run competitively or on their own as a healthy outlet just for exercise. Cross-country running is an option for those who enjoy changing venues and running in different woodlands and landscapes.
Taking children on hiking trails can be a great adventure. Riding a bike along miles of biking trails can open new doors of exploration along the way.
Horses are magnificent animals who offer their own brand of therapy. Horseback riding can add a new dimension to the ADHD child’s need for companionship.
Horses are capable of relating to the behaviors and attitudes of the people that handle them and can be used to help children with ADHD with behavior modification. One technique used for this purpose is Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP).
Campgrounds provide another environment where ADHD children can explore different skills and interests. Rivers and lakes provide opportunities for canoeing and swimming, as well as fishing.
Swimming and water exercise are often recommended for any children looking to improve their physical condition – or to just enjoy themselves and have fun in the sun. Swimming Olympian Michael Phelps has often said that swimming helped him manage his ADHD by improving his focus and discipline.
Sports and gymnastics
There are many sports that can help children with ADHD, from individual sports to team sports. Some of these sports help a child develop physically and emotionally, help them learn to be competitive, experience and overcome setbacks, learn to communicate with others, do some strategic thinking, and basically enjoy using their own particular strengths and skills.
Individual sports like golf, archery, tennis, and martial arts can build self-confidence without the pressures of having teammates who depend on you.
Archery, although involving potentially dangerous equipment, can have a positive effect in a supervised environment, when children are taught to improve their focus and attention – addressing some of the typical issues facing children with ADHD.
Tennis allows children to take out some of their frustrations by hitting a tennis ball as hard as they can as they develop skills in back and forth play.
Soccer can be very helpful for ADHD children, allowing them to run in an open field and be part of a team, without undue pressures. They benefit from constant movement and action and learn some of the strategies of team play.
ADHD children who may be learning-challenged can be allowed to play with younger-aged children who might be at a more compatible level of maturity at that particular time of development.
Gymnastics uses equipment similar to that used in occupational therapy and can help ADHD children with sensory awareness, balance, and muscle development.
Games
Table games and video games have been delighting children of all ages since games were invented long ago. Some of these games have been recognized as particularly enjoyable and helpful for ADHD children.
Classic table games include Chess, Checkers, Monopoly and Clue. These games require planning, attention, and working memory – all of which can help ADHD children.
Video games can help with problem-solving, sustained attention, goal orientation, and response inhibition. Some of the more well-known games include SimCity, Legend of Zelda, Command & Conquer, and Minecraft
There are games especially helpful to preschoolers, such as Zingo, Memory, Sequence, and Super Why.
Games better suited to teenagers include Apples to Apples, Scattergories, and Moods.
Indoor activities
In addition to table games and video games, there are other indoor activities that can add enjoyment for ADHD children, many of them involving low-key personal interaction.
A good old-fashioned scavenger hunt can liven up an otherwise boring evening. A game of Charades among family members can be fun and allows the ADHD child to move around and be expressive.
The game of Twister is another activity that allows movement as is Dance Party. Of course real dancing can have a more therapeutic effect and allow more use of nervous energy.
A little imagination can go a long way in planning indoor activities for your children. You can have a little fun with “play fights” using pillows, or paper balls that can simulate “snowballs” or use rolled-up socks in the same way.
Hobbies
If your ADHD child shows interest in some hobby, you should encourage further interest in it and provide whatever materials and space might be needed.
Hobbies come in all forms and sizes, from collections like rock, gem or stamps to writing music or reading or performing drama. Hobbies can be enjoyed at home or in some club or outside group. Your child may show interest in dinosaurs, Civil War battles, or making model cars.
One of your children may be a budding engineer or mathematician and can enjoy puzzles or assembling Lego structures. Or your children may be interested in knitting or gardening. Anything that stimulates interaction can contribute to developmental gains for your child.
Music is a great hobby for your child. It exercises both sides of the brain. It helps your child do multitasking. Music can be enjoyed just by listening or as a member of a choir or band or even an orchestra. The advantage of working with others helps with learning social skills as well as music skills.
Although your child may be challenged with ADHD, there are many ways you can help him or her grow and develop at the individual pace and manner needed.
Getting your children involved with activities is healthy. Choosing the ones best fitted for them might take some thinking on your part. But just go by what your children show interest in, what they talk about. That’s your clue to jump in and fuel that curiosity with some imagination of your own.
