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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Contributed by Nicole Powell-Dunford, Rokkyu

“Why can’t that parent control that child who won’t sit still?! All (s)he needs is some firm handling and better parents!”
 
How many times has a sidelong glance in the store conveyed that very message to you? If you’re the parent of a child with ADHD chances are good that this situation has played out more than once. As a family member, physician and sports enthusiast, I’ve had both the privilege and challenge of interacting with this group of highly active children on many occasions – in my office, at the pool and in my own home. I’ve witnessed their tears at homework time, their anger at the peers who poke fun at them and have experienced first hand the frustration of every family member coping with this condition.
 
Luckily for our generation, much more is now known about ADHD than in any previous time. ADHD, a disorder affecting the brain’s ability to concentrate and focus, affects children around the world from all walks of life. They are not ‘bad’ kids and are not the products of ‘bad’ parenting.
 
Behavioral intervention, such as providing loads of positive reinforcement at every step of a task, is important. For many kids with ADHD, medication makes the real difference in every day functioning, providing them with the best opportunity for normal social and educational development. ADHD medication will not make your child a drug addict or cause brain damage – on the contrary, children who are fully treated for their condition are less likely to become involved with the law or take illegal drugs.
 
Involvement in sports, where the child is actively engaged and frequently rewarded for efforts, such as judo and swimming, can be really helpful. Sitting on a bench is not. Sports are a natural outlet for the tremendous amount of energy an ADHD child has and physical activity is well known to improve mood, coordination and thinking ability. The time your child is involved in a sport activity can be an important time of respite for you as a parent.
 
Getting your child to and from their sport may not appear to be appreciated now, but demonstrates your support on a regular basis like few other things can. Family centered martial arts and swimming activities can even afford you an opportunity for participation – meaning recreation time for yourself as well. Raising a child with ADHD is no trip to the beach – and sports involvement is a great way for you to recharge your batteries as an adult.
 
There is no shame in having a child with ADHD. Seek medical evaluation for your child, learn as much as you can about the condition and the special parenting skills an ADHD family will benefit from. Get the whole family involved in sports. There is an entire world of hidden potential inside every child with ADHD that education, treatment and support can unlock.              

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