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ADDitude Magazine
Sports and exercise can offer a number of social and behavioral benefits, but it's not always easy for ADHD children to get involved.
For many children with ADHD, the most formidable opponents on the playing field are themselves. Because structure, order and lack of distraction are the keys to sports success, the very issues that plague them in the classroom may get magnified on the playing field.
Additionally, ADHD frequently co-occurs with learning disabilities that affect organization, spatial awareness, and game concepts and strategies. So besides distractibility, other factors that hamper sports success for many ADHD kids are:
- Difficulty following directions. Attention deficit children often want to skip the instructions and jump right into the game or activity.
- Impulsivity. Because ADHD kids often act before thinking, they're quick to operate on instinct rather than employ strategies and rules that are part of the sport. They also may have difficulty waiting their turn and standing in line, especially during practice.
- Inattention. Sports such as baseball that require the child to pay at least moderate attention during periods in which they not fully engaged in the game are particularly challenging. Kids with ADHD often are caught daydreaming or fooling around during low action intervals.
- Low frustration tolerance. Losing is especially difficult for kids with ADHD, and may give rise to tantrums, rages, and other inappropriate or even physically aggressive behaviors.
Next: The Trouble with Team Sports...
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