There is growing scientific evidence that regular exercise and even body movement have a positive impact on self-regulation and learning. These findings are particularly true for youth with ADHD. The New York Times Sunday Magazine section recently published an article, “Put The Physical In Education.” Author Gretchen Reynolds reports on intriguing findings from a 2013 study in The Journal of Pediatrics. Forty children (boys and girls) took computerized academic and attentional tests after two conditions: 20 minutes of sitting quietly and reading and 20 minutes of brisk walking or jogging on treadmills. Half the children had ADHD; half did not. ALL students in the study showed noticeable gains in reading comprehension and math scores after the exercise, but the improvements for the children with ADHD was particularly significant. This has implications for school learning but also for homework. Parents often encourage children to “sit still and get your work done.” Paradoxically, many children with ADHD find it easier to focus during or after periods of movement. Working at a counter (while standing up), writing out definitions or formulas on a whiteboard, and even reciting dates or spelling vocabulary while doing jumping jacks should be explored. Even using a squeeze ball while completing worksheets can be encouraged as a research-based “best practice.” This movement activates the production of neurotransmitters in the frontal cortex, the part of the brain behind the forehead that controls attention, decision-making, and self-monitoring. For more examples of applying this principle, read “Fidget to Focus.”
