ADHD and Taekwondo

The child that has ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is gifted. This special child is creative and spontaneous with the ability to hyper focus on any interesting task.

Conversely, this same child is a challenge to parents because they can often be aggressive, hyper, distractible and impulsive. The world views these children as "hard to handle" which can permanently harm 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.

Sports can be either constructive or negative for all children but more so for the ADHD child. Expelling extra energy is a positive side to sports, but playing on a team is often frustrating to the child, coach and teammates. It can be difficult to learn to adhere to the rules and fulfill particular needs of the team.

Tae kwon do, a martial art, can be a tremendously beneficial for the ADHD child as it permits controlled aggressive behavior in a safe environment. An instructor provides direction that is immediately followed so that it retains relevance and gives instant satisfaction.

A martial art like tae kwon do always emphasizes self-confidence, self-esteem and self-control as part of the curriculum. This is important for the ADHD child to have the confidence to believe what many consider negative character issues are actually positives.

Children learn the "right action" at the right moment which tempers impulsiveness and turns it into a positive action. Boredom is negligible due to the fast active pace of a martial arts class that is full of jumping and spinning, punching and kicking; the hyperactive child can unleash behavior in an appropriate way and be praised for it.

An important quality of tae kwon do instruction is respect and acceptance of all people despite the labels society has placed on them.

ADHD is not a boy problem. An equal number of girls are diagnosed with ADD the counterpart lacking the hyperactivity component. It is a genetically passed difference in character. In fact, a large study found that 25% of children with Attention Deficit had a parent with the problem.

You can't outgrow Attention Deficit, so it becomes crucial to find ways to lessen the burdens of the disadvantages. Help your child learn to see the constructive aspects of their character and turn those traits into successes.

Remember that the ADHD child carries positive traits that are often cultivated by successful businesspeople, entrepreneurs and athletes. Spontaneity, creativity, fast thinking, intense concentration, tenacity and high energy describe the most successful in our history like Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison and Mozart. That's good company.