| Design the daily life of your child with activities | | | | significantly improve problem behaviors such as |
| that work for ADHD children! According to one | | | | restlessness, impulsivity and hyperactivity." They |
| Hockey Coach: "High-energy kids with | | | | found that of 88 children with ADHD in the study, |
| low-attention spans work best with fast-paced | | | | the 63 children who underwent sensory therapy |
| sports like football, basketball, or hockey." Games | | | | had significant behavior improvement. |
| like football have less down-time than baseball, so | | | | Involve Your Child in Playing Musical Instruments |
| an active, distractable child automatically keeps | | | | Active children often enjoy participating in making |
| more engaged. | | | | music. Provide a variety of musical instruments |
| Try Individual Sports | | | | around your home: drums, hand harps, |
| If your child is not interested in team sports, try | | | | harmonicas, and keyboards. "Playing, singing, and |
| Martial Arts or Gymnastics. These kinds of sports | | | | dancing to music increases both fine and gross |
| are individualized and highly-structured, so that an | | | | motor skills and helps develop hand-eye |
| ADHD child can achieve at his own pace. "Kids | | | | coordination, these children are better able to |
| need structure, and children with attention deficit | | | | control their bodies," advises Carla Snuggs in |
| need even more" states Peter Jaksa, PhD, clinical | | | | Preschool Music and Movement. Creating music |
| director of ADD Centers of America. A | | | | can be a wonderful outlet for children of all ages. |
| goal-oriented program like Karate has incentives | | | | Be Flexible and Open To What Your Child Is |
| built-in for an active child to stay focused as he | | | | Interested In |
| achieves measurable goals. | | | | Observe your child at play and be flexible to |
| Include Activities that Develop Sensory-Motor | | | | follow his lead in what he likes to do. Does he |
| Skills | | | | gravitate towards dancing or does he love rock |
| The repetitive, sensory pressure like jumping on a | | | | climbing walls? Encourage him in whatever he is |
| trampoline or swinging on a swing can be calming | | | | good at; this will build self-esteem and breed |
| to your active child. According to Science Daily, | | | | success. Explore ways for your active child to |
| Temple University researchers, determined "...that | | | | practice her interests by classes, clubs, and |
| sensory intervention -- for example, deep | | | | creative lists like Top 10 Outside Activities for |
| pressure and strenuous exercise -- can | | | | Kids by Susan Carney. |