A child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder known as ADHD is gifted with spontaneity, creativeness and the ability to focus intensely on any task they take an interest in.
On the other hand, parents are often faced with the difficulty of dealing with a child that is often impulsive, aggressive, hyper and easily distractible. The outside world uses these character traits to define the ADHD child as "difficult", damaging fragile self-esteem.
It is true that all children are inattentive, impulsive and easily distracted sometimes, but the child with ADHD experiences these traits most of the time. As a parent, you can help your child to perceive ADHD temperament traits as an advantage or disadvantage.
Notwithstanding, ADHD is not just a shortness of capacity to remain attentive, but also the skill to focus intently on the subject matter of choice. Kids with ADHD don't actually lack focus but have the tendency to focus unsuitably and are quick to become bored with a task.
A sport can be either a positive or nonconstructive experience for all children, but for the ADHD child even more so. Spending excess energy is always good for the ADHD child; however, playing on a team can be difficult for her if she can't learn the rules of play or fulfill the role the team needs.
Martial arts, like tae kwon do, can be immensely therapeutic for the ADHD child because it allows aggressive behavior in a safely controlled environment. Directions are given by an instructor and immediately acted upon so there is a sense of relevance and immediate satisfaction.
Tae kwon do emphasizes self-control, self-confidence and self-esteem as an inherent part of its instruction for all students. For the ADHD student, this emphasis can be crucial to turning negative character traits into positives.
The discipline inherent in martial arts begins to form habits which serve to temper impulsive behaviors. It's impossible to become bored because the martial arts class is active with a fast pace. The students jump, spin, kick and punch in controlled ways which delight the hyperactive child and is considered good form in this environment.
Another aspect of tae kwon do training is tolerance and respect for everyone no matter what label society might have imposed.
ADHD is not exclusive to boys. Girls are more often diagnosed with ADD which is the same issue without the hyperactivity in equal numbers to boys with ADHD. This "difference", because it's not exactly a disorder, is genetic. A rather large study discovered that 25% of ADHD children have one parent with Attention Deficit.
You can never outgrow ADHD, so you must help your child find ways to work with the negative aspects to build success. Give her the chance to learn how to change negative traits into advantages to take into adulthood.
There have been many successful people in history who most probably suffered from ADHD. The common traits to all these businesspeople, athletes, politicians, artists and entrepreneurs can be pared down to what some would consider negative traits. Tenacity, fast thinking, spontaneity, intense concentration and creativity were the characteristics of Mozart, Thomas Edison and Winston Churchill. Not bad company to keep.
Tags: ADHD Martial Arts Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Kids Adhd
